Injured Vaughan hopeful of playing in second Pakistan Test by AFP

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Player:	MP Vaughan
Event:	England in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 18th November 2005

 

Injured England skipper Michael Vaughan said Thursday he was hopeful of playing in the second Test against Pakistan, and he would be ready to risk his damaged knee if it could level the series.

 

The 31-year-old Vaughan had to watch from the sidelines as his team lost the first Test by 22 runs on the fifth and final day Wednesday after dominating in the first four days.

 

"The rehabilitation process has gone well and it would be a risk worth taking," Vaughan told reporters.

 

"We are one-nil down so it's a risk worth taking... had the series been nil-nil, I would not have taken this risk," he said.

 

"I recovered after missing the first Test (against New Zealand) last year as well and I am very hopeful that I'll play in the second Test. From tomorrow I will start training with the team."

 

The skipper said his team can make a comeback in the theee-match series. The next Test starts Sunday.

 

"We came back after losing the first Test in the Ashes as well and the fact that we dominated the first four days in the Multan Test was encouraging," he said.

 

The England medical team said last week a scan to Vaughan's injured knee showed no tear damage to the cartilage but that since he had a history of knee injuries it would be assessed on a regular basis.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)