Fletcher rules Vaughan out

England coach Duncan Fletcher has attempted to put an end to the speculation surrounding the return of Michael Vaughan to the England Test team before the end of the Ashes series.

Numerous conspiracy theories have popped up in recent times regarding the presence of Vaughan with the team in Australia, but Fletcher says he does not believe that the England captain will regain fitness before the end of the series.

Fletcher cited the lack of tour games in his reasoning, stating that there is not enough cricket between the Tests for Vaughan return to match fitness.

“There’s not much cricket between now and the third, fourth and fifth Tests,” said Fletcher.

“Especially cricket where he has to stay in the field for a long time, probably two days standing on that leg and for a long innings,” he added.

Vaughan’s captaincy came in for high praise during and following last year’s Ashes triumph, but he has suffered from a knee injury since, missing part of England’s tour of Pakistan and all of the tour of India and home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. England now face a huge task, standing 2-0 down in their attempt to retain the Ashes.