Knee surgery rules Vaughan out of one-dayers

ENGLAND captain Michael Vaughan will miss the one-day series in Pakistan to undergo exploratory knee surgery.

Vaughan, who missed the first Test and struggled through the last two games, saw a specialist on Monday.

“He has suffered intermittent pains which warrant further investigation, best done arthroscopically,” said ECB medical officer Dr Peter Gregory.

Marcus Trescothick will captain the side, with Ian Bell staying on for the series, which begins on Saturday.

Vaughan will undergo the keyhole procedure in Sheffield on Friday. It will be performed by top knee surgeon Derek Bickerstaff, who operated on him in 2001 and 2002.

Trescothick has captained England five times in limited-overs games in the past, winning three.

Vaughan’s unavailability could open the door, meanwhile, to flashy batsman Vikram Solanki - a player who may be in line for the dubious distinction of becoming one of the first to wear the label of ‘specialist supersub’, having filled that role three times for his country in last year’s NatWest Challenge matches against Australia.

The Worcestershire captain has every right, given his pedigree strokeplay, to aspire to a higher echelon as an international player - but he is not about to turn down any opportunity to represent his country.

“I am pretty pleased with any involvement in the England set-up. It is fantastic to be here as part of the squad,” said Solanki.

“If it is just as part of a squad and on stand-by then fine; if that is as a ‘specialist supersub’ then that’s fine as well.”

Vaughan expressed his disappointment at not being able to play in the five-match series but he is optimistic of recovering in time for England’s next Test fixture, in India at the beginning of March.

“I’m bitterly disappointed to be missing the one-day matches against Pakistan but surgery really is the only option for me at the moment,” he said.

“Hopefully I can make a full recovery in time for the tour to India in the early stages of next year.”

Vaughan has the sympathy of spinner Ashley Giles, who will undergo hip surgery today after himself returning home early from Pakistan.

“With an all-year-round programme you can’t help things like this,” he said.