ECB dodge question over Vaughan's one-day captaincy

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Apr 19 (Reuters) England captain Michael Vaughan's future as one-day skipper looked less secure after England's cricket chief today failed to confirm he would continue in the role.

England, who announced coach Duncan Fletcher's resignation today, were dumped out of the World Cup by South Africa on Tuesday after a dismal tournament.

The 32-year-old Vaughan, who has never scored a one-day international century, had a woeful time with the bat which contributed to England's failure.

Asked by Reuters if Vaughan would still be one-day skipper after Saturday's final World Cup match with West Indies, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman David Morgan was cautious.

''Michael Vaughan is the England captain. I talked with the chairman of selectors (David Graveney) this morning and the selectors wish him to lead the side into the West Indies test series,'' Morgan told a news conference.

''That may not answer your question but it gives you a lot of information.'' England face West Indies in the first test at Lord's on May 17. Their first home one-dayer is against West Indies on July 1.

Vaughan, who has said he would not retire from limited overs internationals, was not expected to lose the one-day captaincy because he has been out for a year with knee trouble and was still feeling his way back in the World Cup.

There are also few other obvious candidates to take over after Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the World Cup vice captaincy following late-night drinking earlier in the tournament. Batsman Paul Collingwood could be one choice.

REUTERS SHB BST2300