Vaughan not deterred by comeback failure

PERTH (Australia)—Despite failing to trouble the scorers in his comeback match, former England skipper Michael Vaughan hasn’t ruled out a surprise Test return during the current Ashes series.
Vaughan was dismissed for a seven-ball duck as the England Academy XI were beaten by the West Australian Second XI here Wednesday, his first outing since the surgery on his troublesome right knee that sidelined him from the Ashes squad.
But the 2005 Ashes hero was in a buoyant mood after the game, his first since playing for Yorkshire in May. Vaughan was pleased to get through the match unscathed and, with a game under his belt, said he hoped to accelerate his rehabilitation.
There has been plenty of speculation that Vaughan, who hasn’t played Test cricket since November last year, could be in line for a surprise Ashes recall as early as the third Test at the WACA Ground, starting on December 14.
Asked about his Ashes chances, Vaughan wasn’t ruling out the possibility. “Certainly not the second (Test), as that is starting on Friday,” he said after the day’s play. “I honestly don’t know, this is the first day of what has been a long rehab programme.
“I just have to look to train hard over the next week, play the game next Wednesday and look to play a few more games and see where it takes us.” The England camp has maintained Vaughan would not play until the triangular one-day series, which starts mid-January.
Vaughan said he was already ahead of schedule, as he hadn’t planned to play any cricket until January. Although caught behind without scoring, a bouyant Vaughan said the positives far outweighed the negatives.
“I’m slightly disappointed I didn’t get any runs,” he said. “To be honest, today was all about getting back playing cricket, so it is a huge positive for me that I am back on the field.
“It is early stages of a comeback, but six months ago I never thought I would get to the stage of playing cricket again and it was a really tough time. “For me, it is a good day.”
Coming in with his side in trouble at 2-4 in the fifth over, the elegant right-hander comfortably survived five balls from WA first-class pace bowler Ben Edmondson, most passing harmlessly through to the wicketkeeper.
However, when the 32-year-old regained the strike in the following over he lasted just two more balls, fringe WA seamer Darren Wates having Vaughan caught behind.
Vaughan got an outside edge to a Wates outswinger as he pushed forward tentatively, his innings over almost before he had the chance to feel bat on ball.
The 32-year-old conceded he was desperately shory of match practice, but was confident his batting form would soon return. Although he only fielded for 25 overs during the WA innings and admitted his fielding workload was limited, he said the knee felt fine.
“Next week hopefully I’ll get a few runs and spend a little bit more time in the middle,” he said. “Over the next few weeks we’ll be having plenty of practice, plenty of middle practice and I hope to play a full part in next Wednesday’s (Academy) game.
“The real test will be when I have to spend the whole day in the field or bat for five hours, to see how the knee responds to that.” Vaughan could have up to four outings before the Perth Test.
His next outing is expected to be in another England Academy game in Perth on December 6. He is then tipped to play in the Lilac Hill Festival Match on December 8.
If the English are considering recalling Vaughan, he could also play in the two-day clash with Western Australia on December 9 and 10 at the WACA Ground.—Agencies