MICHAEL Vaughan today admitted he was disappointed at not being included in the England squad for the first Test against the West Indies which starts at Edgbaston on Thursday.
The Yorkshire opener missed the two Tests with Zimbabwe because of a broken hand, but after making a sparkling 94 on his return to Championship cricket against Durham at Riverside last week Vaughan looked an odds on certainty for an early recall with England.
But chairman of selectors David Graveney said it was felt that Vaughan needed more match practice before winning back the England place he secured on last winter's tour of South Africa.
Vaughan's absence could mean another chance for Warwickshire's Nick Knight, who failed to make any sort of impression in the second Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge.
Vaughan commented today: "I am disappointed in that I felt I played well at Durham in my first game back and I made runs on a ground on which runs are difficult to come by. I had hoped that would be enough to get back.
"It is important that I continue to pile up runs for Yorkshire and it is a great consolation to be in a winning team. It certainly took the edge off any disappointment I felt at not playing for England."
Vaughan said Graveney had rung him yesterday morning and had said that for the moment England wanted to stick with the players they had chosen for the Zimbabwe Tests.
"I think that is fair enough," said Vaughan. "At least they are showing faith with the players they have previously selected and it suggests they will be patient with me when I get back."
Vaughan is now determined to make another big score for Yorkshire when they come up against Kent in the Championship at Headingley on Wednesday.
Kent all-rounder Mark Ealham and Glamorgan off-spinner Robert Croft are the two new names in England's squad, but if Ealham is not wanted for the Test he may be released in time to play for Kent at Headingley.
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