England has refused to assure Andrew Flintoff of the captaincy for next month's one-day tri-series in Australia as former skipper Michael Vaughan prepares for his comeback to international cricket.
Vaughan has told coach Duncan Fletcher that his troublesome right knee has improved and he expects to be fit for the one-day campaign against Australia and New Zealand.
England will name their 16-man squad on Thursday, with the tourists still debating whether Vaughan should return to the top job, a report in Herald Sun said.
Fletcher, also a key selector, said he would discuss the issue with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"We'll have to make that decision when we have got our discussions with the other selectors," he said, adding "they have been happy with Flintoff. We will just have to take that into consideration."
Fletcher said the news on Vaughan's knee, which has been operated on four times, was "positive".
"Vaughany is moving around very freely. In fact, he said he hasn't felt so good in a long time," Fletcher said. "That's very pleasing."
However, Fletcher was quick to dismiss suggestions that Vaughan could be a surprise inclusion for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.
"Vaughan will not play in the Test series," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"Vaughan will not play in the Test series," he said.
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