The England camp, faced with a crunch Group A day-night game against India at Durban Wednesday, saw a faint silver lining in the results of the scan done on ace batsman Michael Vaughan's injured right calf.
Following the scan, it was announced that while treatment will continue, Vaughan will participate in the England nets tomorrow -- an indication that the injury is not sufficiently serious to rule him out of the key game a day later.
This puts to rest a fear based on Vaughan's past -- two years ago, he similarly tore a calf muscle and the injury, which on the face of it seemed to be routine, ended up forcing Vaughan to sit out an entire tour of Pakistan.
England expects Vaughan to act as engine room for the batting, more so given the loss of form of opener Marcus Trescothick. The left-handed opener, who averages 49.55 against India in 11 games, had a form slump earlier this year in Australia.
After starting the VB series with two 80s, he then registered scores of 39, 6, 0 and 0 in the next four games. In the World Cup thus far, Trescothick has made 12 versus Holland, 58 against Namibia and 1 against Pakistan.
Another indicator of the key role Vaughan -- if fit and playing -- is expected to perform came when England's frontline seamer Andy Caddick told the media that Vaughan would be England's answer to Sachin Tendulkar.
Sources say that every effort is being made to ensure that Vaughan takes his place in the playing XI for Wednesday's key game.
© 2024 Rediff.com -