Graveney hopeful over Vaughan

Both men missed the summer's opening Test against the tourists, which ended in a rain and light affected draw at Lord's, but have been recalled to the squad, with Middlesex's Owais Shah and injured Yorkshire seamer Matthew Hoggard dropping out.

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Hoggard's absence is covered by a recall for Lancashire's James Anderson and a first call in six years for once-capped Nottinghamshire left-armer Ryan Sidebottom.

But it was the injury doubts over Michael Vaughan's fractured finger and Flintoff's troublesome ankle that will have dominated discussions.

Graveney said: "Obviously Michael has been having rehab for his finger. "He had another net session today, so we're confident.

"A lot of people have made comments about his lack of cricket but we're confident he can return as captain.

"We've talked it through and Michael is confident and keen to get back playing. We're confident he can reproduce his best form in the Test arena."

As for all-rounder Flintoff, who played as a specialist batsman for Lancashire at the weekend, the selectors are eager to give him as much time as he needs to prove he can perform with the ball.

"We're still trying to monitor his ankle," said Graveney.

"He will do some bowling tomorrow and the following day and he will need to bowl for successive days for us to assess him.

"He batted for Lancashire but his bowling will need to be resolved. We want to give him the maximum amount of time."

As for the two players in as cover for Hoggard, who hurt his thigh in the first Test, Graveney believes they offer Vaughan and coach Peter Moores plenty of options as they seek to improve on a lacklustre bowling efforts from the seamers.

"Ryan (a former Yorkshire player) is familiar with conditions at Headingley," he said of a player whose only Test cap saw him go wicketless against Pakistan in 2001.

"He's been in good form for some time and quite a lot of people think he's been unlucky not to be included before.

"With James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom - a left-armer and a right-armer - we will be giving Michael plenty of options."