NAGPUR (India), Feb 27: England captain Michael Vaughan has been ruled out of the Test series against India due to a knee injury.

“Vaughan is ruled out. He is going home,” England spokesman Andrew Walpole told newsmen on Monday.

“It is too early to say whether he will be back for the one-dayers.”

The England captain batted at the nets on Monday against spinner Ian Blackwell to test the knee.

The 31-year-old batsman sat out last week’s tour match against an Indian Board President’s XI after having a pain-killing injection in a bid to get fit for the opening Test, which begins on Wednesday.

Vaughan also missed the first Test in Pakistan late last year after aggravating his right knee in a warm-up game. He came back for the last two matches of the series won by Pakistan.

He skipped the subsequent one-dayers to undergo surgery to prepare for the India series.

There was further bad news for the tourists when pace bowler Simon Jones was ruled out of the first Test because of a knee injury.

England, chasing their first Test series win in India for 21 years, are due to play three Tests and seven one-dayers.

Meanwhile, Andrew Flintoff believes the challenge of captaincy could bring the best out of him during the Test series in India.

The 28-year-old all-rounder will deputise for Michael Vaughan in the first Test after the Ashes-winning captain suffered a recurrence of a long-term knee problem.

The England side is facing a crisis but Flintoff is unfazed by his extra responsibilities in the three-Test series.

“It is something I’m looking forward to, to be honest,” Flintoff said. “I’m involved in the game anyway — bat, bowl, field, slip.

“One thing is, I’m sure of my destiny now. It is not something I’m worried about, the extra responsibility.

“That could bring the best out of me, batting and bowling and my role within the side.”

Flintoff said he would strive to implement strategies worked out by Vaughan and the team management.—Reuters