Vaughan could face more surgery

Michael Vaughan sits out the post-lunch session at Arundel © Paul Limmer Photography

Michael Vaughan is set to find out whether he needs more surgery on his injured knee on Monday after a meeting between England and Yorkshire physios. His condition appeared to worsen while he was playing in Yorkshire's innings and 25-run County Championship defeat away to Sussex at Arundel.

Vaughan has been ruled out of Yorkshire's C&G match against Worcestershire at New Road. He spent much of the match at Arundel in the dressing room while Yorkshire were fielding. And when he came out to bat Friday he could only manage four runs off four balls before being lbw to the Pakistan seamer Yasir Arafat.

"Michael's rehab programme seems to have suffered a setback and we will have to decide whether he needs a longer period of strengthening his knee or if some other course of action is required," the Yorkshire physio Scott McAllister told Saturday's edition of the Northern Echo newspaper. "A fourth operation on his knee is a possibility but at this stage nothing has been set in stone and the situation needs to be carefully assessed."

A fresh operation would sideline Vaughan from the remainder of the season with both Yorkshire and England. He has not played for England since the tour of Pakistan before Christmas due to a knee problem and only returned to cricket with Yorkshire a month ago.

During the Championship match Yorkshire's director of cricket, David Byas, had tried to play down the concerns. He said there was some inflammation but insisted that it was nothing serious. "We hope to get him on the field as soon as we can."

Vaughan stoops to field before going off © Paul Limmer Photography

Vaughan told The Times that he had considered going to America to see Dr Richard Steadman (the surgeon who is treating Simon Jones). "But it's a long way and there are surgeons as good here including one or two who taught Richard Steadman the techniques in the first place. I'm happy that I'm getting the best advice.

"I've been told there is a possible alteration that might deal with my problem but I want to see how I get through the two matches before we decide on the next step. I've built the muscles round the knee as much as I can." Vaughan's Yorkshire team-mates said that he seemed to have good days and bad days.

"There's no point Michael playing for England if he's not fit," David Graveney, the chairman of England's selectors told the Evening Standard after speaking to Vaughan. "The last thing he should feel is that there's any added pressure on him to come back because the team are not doing very well."

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