MELBOURNE: England skipper Michael Vaughan will miss the tri-series finals against Australia due to a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

The 32-year-old aggravated his torn left hamstring in his side's 14-run victory over New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday, which sent England into the best-of-three finals against Australia starting at the MCG on Friday.

The second final is in Sydney on Sunday and a third will be played in Adelaide on Tuesday if needed.

Vaughan will return to Britain on Saturday, having been advised to rest for a period of 10 days.

Andrew Flintoff will take charge for the first match of the best-of-three finals.

Coach Duncan Fletcher said on Wednesday that the team had greatly benefited from Vaughan's captaincy.

"You always worry (about missing) Michael because that experience is immense."

Watson to be back

With Symonds missing, Australia has turned to injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson, who will be under great pressure to both perform and prove his fitness as the World Cup looms.

Bowlers Shaun Tait and Stuart Clark were dropped from the Australian squad, with Watson's return offering another pace bowling option.

Spinner Brad Hogg was retained and could play in Melbourne if conditions suit, with all-rounder Cameron White struggling to deliver with his leg-spinners.

Having made an unbeaten 99 against the Black Caps, the unlucky Brad Hodge could be squeezed out by the return of Watson. Few expected the English to make the tri-series finals after a horror tour here, but Vaughan's astute leadership in the final qualifying game against New Zealand has given it a chance to gain revenge for its Ashes whitewash in the best-of-three finals series.

The teams (from): Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson.

England: Andrew Flintoff (capt.), Mal Loye, Ed Joyce, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Strauss, James Dalrymple, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett, Sajid Mahmood, Monty Panesar, Jon Lewis. — Agencies

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail