LONDON, July 22: Michael Vaughan is determined to return to action for England in their one-day cricket matches in Australia early next year.

The 31-year-old batsman has not played for his country since a recurrence of his knee problems in India in February.

More surgery has ruled him out of Ashes Test series but he aims to play in limited-overs games that follow.

“It's going to be a long road but hopefully I'll be back playing cricket in early part of 2007,” he told BBC Sport.

“It's been a tough year and I thought I'd got very close to playing again but it wasn't right and I had to have another operation.

“At least it looks like I'm on upward slide and I can look forward to playing cricket again. It's going to be quite a hard rehab but I'm looking forward to getting back in 2007.”

Vaughan led England to their first Ashes triumph for 18 years in 2005 but knee problems since have seen him miss Test series against India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

He is particularly disappointed at being denied chance to captain side in return five-Test series with Australia.

But he says playing in Twenty20 international against Aussies on Jan 9 and VB series – which also features New Zealand – will soften blow to some extent.

“I have to look forward and try and get fit for early part of 2007, try and play a part in one-dayers and also World Cup in March.”—Agencies