LONDON, May 12, 2007, Injured England captain, Michael Vaughan is set to miss the first Test against the West Indies, Yorkshire team-mate Deon Kruis claimed on Saturday.

The selectors, who are due to announce their squad on Sunday for the opening match of a four-Test series, due to start on Thursday at Lord's, have said they will give batsman Vaughan as much time as they can to recover from having his finger broken facing Hampshire's Australia pace bowler Stuart Clark last week.

But Kruis said Vaughan had felt pain during batting practice.

“He has been in the last couple of days trying to test the finger,” Kruis told Sky Sports.

“He's had an X-ray and had some strapping on the finger but he won't be ready for the first Test. But he feels pretty confident of being ready for the second Test match.

“I suppose he was looking at playing but he was still feeling some discomfort,” the pace bowler added.

Vaughan last played a Test for England 17 months ago, in Pakistan, and eversince he has been ruled out with a persistent knee problem and a hamstring injury.

He led England during their recent unsuccessful World Cup campaign in the Caribbean where the 32-year-old struggled for runs.

All-rounder, Andrew Flintoff, and opening batsman Andrew Strauss, who have both captained England in Vaughan's absence, are the leading contenders to lead the side should he be ruled out again.

Sunday's squad will be the first England have announced since Peter Moores replaced Duncan Fletcher as coach.—AFP