LONDON, England, CMC

With speculation rife that former England captain Michael Vaughan will get a recall for the upcoming West Indies series, another former England skipper has come out against any such move.

Writing in his column in the Daily Mail this week, Nasser Hussain said it would be a mistake to bring Vaughan back for the tour starting next month and which comprises four Tests and five One-Day Internationals.

"Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Michael's batting and the experience he would bring as a successful ex-captain," wrote Hussain.

"I'm also well aware that [current captain] Kevin Pietersen is close to him and may want him on board.

"But the time isn't right. Since retiring as Test skipper in the summer, Michael has done nothing to justify winning back a place in England's top order.

"He had a quiet end to the county season and hasn't played since. When the series in the Caribbean starts in February, he will have been out of action for five months."

Vaughan quit the England team earlier this year after a prolonged batting slump which saw him score just 40 runs in five Test innings against South Africa during the summer's home series.

His subsequent form for his County club Yorkshire was lean and his highest score in six matches was 72.

earn recall

"After he stood down, Geoff Miller, the national selector, said that he could only earn a recall through sheer weight of runs, and Michael even said the same thing himself," contended Hussain, who played 96 Tests for England between 1990 and 2004.

"So there is no way he can just stroll back into the squad now. Michael has admitted that his target is to be back in the England team when Australia come over for the Ashes series but the way to do that is to score hundreds for Yorkshire at the start of next season. Then, as a class player in form, he would deserve another chance."

Hussain, who also walked away from international cricket after scoring a century against New Zealand to end a poor run of form in 2004, said Vaughan's presence would also create problems in the team's composition.

"Ian Bell is seen as the most likely to make way for Vaughan but that would create issues. Where would it leave Owais Shah?" Hussain queried.

"He did well in the one-day series so if Michael came into the team ahead of him it would be a real kick in the guts. The alternative would be for Shah to play instead of Bell with Michael in reserve.

"But having an ex-captain carrying the drinks doesn't sit well with me. He has to play, if not with England then somewhere else. Bell has had a disappointing series in India and there are question marks about his capabilities as a one-day batsman.

"But I still think he can be a fine Test player. He has just gone through a bad patch which can happen to anyone."

Vaughan has a good record against the Windies, averaging 43 and scoring three centuries.