Vaughan comeback delayed again

Michael Vaughan talks over his injury with Nigel Stockill at Lord's earlier this week © Getty Images

Michael Vaughan has suffered another setback in his bid to shake off a long-standing knee injury and is now likely to miss the entire Test series against Sri Lanka.

Earlier this week Vaughan had said that he intended to turn out for Yorkshire at the weekend to test his right knee, but those plans have been put on hold. A piece of bone in the joint has created a hole, and until that smoothes over a comeback is unlikely.

"This Sunday against Northants in the C&G Trophy was potentially a chance of me playing. But there was a little bit of a setback. When you have rehab and you're working hard then you get the odd setback. If I miss another two weeks of the season because of the that and it makes me stronger for it, it will be a good decision.

"As everyone knows, it is slow progress. But it looks like progress in the right direction," said Vaughan. "I have batted in the nets, but it is frustrating that I can bat in the nets but not out in the middle. I have worked pretty hard and I hope I will get the rewards eventually.

"I have got to be patient. Everyone has to be patient with the knee because when I do come back I want it to be with confidence and for a long time, not just for a short period. It's very difficult to put a time span on it. I have to tick all the right boxes to make sure I can withstand a real tough game of cricket. Until I have ticked all the boxes, I will not put myself forward for a game.

"At the minute I have not been able to twist and turn at pace," Vaughan continued. "I can do it at 50 or 60% but I cannot get in and out at pace without feeling a little bit of aggravation. The last thing I need and everyone else needs is to see a limping Michael Vaughan, like in Pakistan.

"There are a couple of shots, more so on the back foot, when you are cutting the ball for example and putting a little bit more weight on the right knee which is still causing me a little bit of pain.

"If it was just pain I would have a tablet and get on and play; it is the actual aggravation, the locking sensation which is the hard thing to get over. There is damage in there now, but the specialists I have been speaking to have told me that will get better over time.

"All the training I am doing is towards making sure I can withstand that. I have actually got muscles in my legs for the first time for a long time. You might have to get a microscope to see them - but they are there!"