Michael Vaughan needed a runner during his innings of 17 on Tuesday © Getty Images Enlarge

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, will miss Friday's CB Series match against Australia in Brisbane due to a torn left hamstring. Scans showed Vaughan had a grade one tear after injuring the leg while fielding in the three-wicket win over New Zealand in Hobart on Tuesday.

Vaughan, who needed a runner during his innings of 17, will stay with the squad and an ECB spokesman said a decision on who will captain England will be made in due course. Andrew Flintoff, who led the team during the 5-0 Ashes loss, and Andrew Strauss, the struggling opener, are the two candidates for the position.

Despite the decision to retain Vaughan, who will be reassessed over the next two days, England have called up Mal Loye, the Lancashire batsman. Loye was named in the 30-man preliminary World Cup squad this week and will join the squad in Brisbane on Wednesday night.