Strauss returns for one-dayers

Andrew Strauss returns to England's one-day squad following the birth of his first child on Sunday © AFP

England have been boosted with the news that their opening batsman, Andrew Strauss, will join the squad for the one-day series against Pakistan. Strauss, who had returned home to attend the birth of his first child before the third and final Test at Lahore, will arrive on Tuesday.

"Strauss had a boy on Sunday night and is returning for one-dayers on Tuesday," Marcus Trescothick told reporters ahead of the five-match series which starts at Lahore on December 10.

England are still unsure whether Michael Vaughan would return in time for the one-dayers. He returned home on Sunday to seek medical advice on his injured right knee.

"I am not going to think about being captain over the next couple of days. If we hear the bad news [about Vaughan], then obviously we can look at it and make plans."

Ashley Giles will also miss the one-day series due to a hip injury; batsman Vikram Solanki, all-rounder Ian Blackwell and paceman Kabir Ali have joined the squad as cover, while Ian Bell is on standby if Vaughan is unable to play. England take on a Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI in a warm-up match on Wednesday, and despite losing the Test series, Trescothick is buoyant about England's chances in the one-day matches:

"It was disappointing (to lose the series), but we can pick ourselves up very quickly and make sure that we play well. We have got a warm-up match coming up to get prepared," he said. "We always look to win one-day competitions. We are now nearly 18 months away from the World Cup. The base of our team is pretty much together, but obviously a bit incomplete through injuries this time.

"They are a good side and got a lot of experience. Obviously playing at home they are a great side and it is going to be a tough challenge to beat them."