Vaughan ruled out of first Test

Michael Vaughan failed a fitness test following England's practice session this morning and has been ruled out of the first Test match against Pakistan starting in Lahore tomorrow.

His place is likely to be taken by Andrew Flintoff who left England on Sunday night to rejoin the tour after being sent home for treatment on his back two weeks ago.

Vaughan batted in the nets for 20 minutes before England physio Dean Conway decided he was not fit enough to continue having struggled with a calf muscle injury sustained during the England v Governor XI match at Peshawar.

There was a further scare minutes later when Flintoff top-edged a ball through the grille of his helmet onto his face creating a slight nose bleed. The young Lancastrian, who is due to play tomorrow as a specialist batsman, was later taken to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on his nose.

For Vaughan, it is the third time in his young Test career that he has been forced to withdraw through injury. In South Africa last winter, he suffered a broken finger and at the start of the summer series against Zimbabwe and West Indies, he was ruled out with a broken hand.

This time, nothing is broken so his absence from the England side is expected to be brief.

"I did it on the final day of the four-day game in Peshawar," he said.

"It was clear to see that I was limping and it hasn't got any better. It's been awkward to run on. I've never pulled a muscle before and I'm not sure how long it takes to clear up.

"Its annoying because over the past 12 months I've had more injuries than I've ever had in my life."

"It's frustrating because it's my first Test on the sub-continent - and to miss out on this kind of pitch makes it doubly disappointing," he said in his website column.

Meanwhile, Flintoff's return to Pakistan has been criticised by his Manchester based fitness coach Steve Hampson who said a further delay in sorting out the 22 year-old's long-standing back problem could cause 'serious long-term back damage'.

Former Great Britain rugby league international Steve Hampson, told Talksport: "He wants to get his back sorted out as soon as possible as it could lead to very serious long-term problems.''

"We still don't know what exactly the problem with Andrew is. It's linked in some way to the nerves in his back. He had an exploratory procedure scheduled, but it's had to be called off now."