Cook may replace Strauss

Alastair Cook, the left-hand batsman who was called up as cover for Michael Vaughan, finds himself in line for a Test debut with Andrew Strauss flying back to England tomorrow. Strauss will be returning home to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby on Thursday. He will be back for the one-day internationals.

The third and final Test begins at Lahore on November 29, and 20-year-old Cook looks set to replace Strauss. Cook, who plays for Essex, scored a double hundred against the Australians in a tour match this summer and has also captained the England Under-19 team in the 2004 Youth World Cup in Bangladesh.

Vaughan recovered from a knee injury that saw him sit out England's 22-run defeat in the first Test at Multan and is now back in business.