PERTH, Dec 10: Michael Vaughan has conceded he has no chance of making an unlikely Ashes comeback down under.

Talk of the 2005 Ashes hero, who is on the comeback trail after knee surgery earlier in the year, returning late in the current Ashes series gathered momentum when he played in two one-day matches for the England Academy here over the last week.

He was then recalled to the senior side for the two-day match against Western Australia, seemingly accelerating his comeback.

However, Vaughan confided to another former England skipper, Michael Atherton, that his aim was to return for the triangular one-day series, starting in mid-January.

Vaughan then all but confirmed his chances of an Ashes recall were gone when he elected not to bat in the tour match on Sunday, instead allowing other Test hopefuls to gain valuable batting practice.

Acting England captain Andrew Strauss said Vaughan was expected to bat at No 4 on Sunday, but after the openers put on 183 it was decided it was more important to give time in the middle to players who might take part in the Ashes.

Vaughan, who hasn't played Test cricket since November last year, spent the whole day in the field on Saturday and appeared to move freely, chasing balls down and making one spectacular diving stop.

Atherton said Vaughan wouldn't be ready for a Test recall in the next three weeks.—AFP