Vaughan to join Performance Squad

Michael Vaughan is to be drafted into the England Performance Squad in India this month.

The England and Wales Cricket Board announced in September the former captain would not be chosen for Kevin Pietersen's squad in India for two Tests at the end of a seven-match one-day international series, which starts this week, and it was initially thought he would not join the shadow Performance Squad either.

Vaughan subsequently suggested in his Sunday Telegraph column that he planned after all to be with England's second string in India as he tries to force his way back into the reckoning for next year's Test tour of the West Indies. His name was not among the 15 announced on September 29 - but national selector Geoff Miller conceded then it was a possibility Vaughan might join the trip.

Pietersen, whose team suffered an unexpected landslide defeat against a Mumbai XI on Tuesday, greeted confirmation of Vaughan's trip enthusiastically.

"It's good because it gives us strength in depth to have a guy like that around with his experience," he said.

"He's coming back into the fold now and has his head back on - and he's willing to do whatever it takes to get back into the England team, which is great."