England have received a boost in the build-up to the first Test at Lord's which start next Thursday (May 17) with the news that Michael Vaughan may recover in time to play.

Vaughan suffered a broken finger last week when he was struck on the hand in a County Championship match by Hampshire's Stuart Clark. The initial prognosis was that he would need between three and four weeks to recover.

But Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of cricket, told the BBC that Vaughan had "definitely improved since it happened last week.

"I don't know whether they've made a decision or not but he's getting better," Moxon said. "I've not had a chance to speak to him yet today but hopefully we'll know by early next week."

There was also good news regarding Kevin Pietersen, who missed the current round of county matches with a strain to his left calf. He expects to have fully recovered in time for the Test.

URL: http://cricketflavor.blogspot.com/2007/05/vaughan-and-pietersen-boost-for-england.html