CRICKET: England captain Michael Vaughan will miss the test series against India because of a knee injury and is also expected to miss the one-day series that follows. A specialist has advised Vaughan to rest completely for two weeks before beginning his rehabilitation.
The 31-year-old had surgery on his right knee after the problem flared up during the tour of Pakistan late last year. Vaughan suffered a recurrence early in the India tour.
England, who have also lost vice-captain Marcus Trescothick after the opener returned home due to personal reasons, are playing the first Test in Nagpur with all rounder Andrew Flintoff deputising as captain.
England were dismissed for 393 on the second day with India reaching 136 for one in reply at the close of the second day, a deficit of 257 runs.
Centurion Paul Collingwood led an incredible tail-end assault for England as bat dominated ball. Collingwood's brilliant maiden Test hundred, spanning six hours in all, altered the course of a contest India were dominating.
England's momentum sprang from Steve Harmison's entrance to partner Collingwood and after India separated them, the latter farmed the strike expertly to get to three figures.
There was plenty more to add, however, Collingwood's unbeaten 134 including 13 fours and four sixes.
Considered a one-day specialist for the majority of his career, the 29-year-old Collingwood put down a significant marker. His team-mates' reaction from the dressing room emphasised what an extraordinary contribution he had made.
Having resumed on 246 for seven yesterday, the tourists powered to a healthy 393 all out as Collingwood shared 126 for the final two wickets with Durham colleague Harmison and debutant Monty Panesar.
It was not until the 38th over that India finally finished England off as Sri Sreesanth trapped Panesar leg before.
England were given hope early on as the dangerous Virender Sehwag drove a Matthew Hoggard slower ball straight to cover.
But there were no further breakthroughs as Wasim Jaffer, recalled to Test cricket after a lengthy absence, struck an assured unbeaten 73.
Although left-arm spinner Panesar caused plenty of problems initially with the turn and bounce he extracted - twice having confident leg-before appeals turned down - Jaffer took advantage of the fast outfield to hit 10 fours in a half-century which occupied 121 balls.
Flintoff also proved a menace due to his ability to reverse swing the ball but opposite number Rahul Dravid displayed typical patience to reach 40 by stumps, drawn two overs early because of bad light.
