Vaughan to resume as England captain

LONDON, Jan 7 (Reuters) Michael Vaughan will resume his role as England captain in Tuesday's Twenty20 game against Australia and the triangular one-day series which follows, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said.

The Yorkshire batsman, out of international cricket for a year with a knee injury, takes over from stand-in skipper Andrew Flintoff, who presided over a 5-0 drubbing in the Ashes test series.

''It will be a fantastic boost for everyone to have Michael Vaughan back as captain for the one-day series,'' chairman of selectors David Graveney told the ECB Web site (www.ecb.co.uk).

''It is to Andrew Flintoff's credit he was prepared to take on the responsibility of leading the test side in Australia in Michael's absence.

''But Michael is the England captain and he will now begin the task of preparing the team for the challenges that lie ahead this winter.'' Vaughan, who led England to a 2-1 series win in the 2005 Ashes, has not played for his country since a test against Pakistan in Lahore in December that year.

The 32-year-old made a failed attempt at a comeback with Yorkshire last season and needed his fourth knee operation.

He has been proving his fitness in Australia and had hoped to appear in the tests but will now return in the Twenty20 game in Sydney and the triangular series that also involves New Zealand which begins on Jan. 12.

The World Cup in West Indies takes place in March and April.

REUTERS PM ND0906