Board President's XI v England, Vadodara

Recurring knee injury haunts Vaughan

Cricinfo staff

February 23, 2006

Michael Vaughan battles with his fitness ahead of the first Test © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, has pulled out of England's three-day practice match against Board President's XI at Baroda due to the recurrence of soreness in his right knee.

Andrew Walpole, the England media manager told PTI, "The soreness was also there during the first warm-up match against CCI XI in Mumbai and he was not comfortable in the nets here. It was decided as a precautionary measure to rule him out of the three-day game. We are hopeful he will be fit for the first Test".

Coincidentally, Vaughan suffered the same injury in Pakistan last year during his side's second warm-up game, against Pakistan A at Lahore. Vaughan retired hurt after facing just one ball in England's second innings and subsequently missed the first Test at Multan.

It was the recurrence of a long-standing cartilage problem that required surgery ahead of the 2002-03 Ashes tour, and then reoccurred in the nets at Lord's in May 2004. Vaughan's absence paved the way for Andrew Strauss to make his debut.

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