Injured Vaughan to miss tri-series finals

MELBOURNE, Feb 8 (Reuters) England skipper Michael Vaughan will miss the tri-series finals against Australia due to a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

The 32-year-old aggravated his torn left hamstring in his side's 14-run victory over New Zealand in Brisbane on Tuesday which sent England into the best-of-three finals against Australia starting at the MCG tomorrow.

The second final is in Sydney on Sunday and a third will be played in Adelaide on Tuesday if needed.

Vaughan will return to Britain on Saturday, having been advised to rest for a period of 10 days.

Andrew Flintoff will take charge for the first match of the best-of-three finals.

Vaughan missed five matches after first suffering the problem in England's second game of the series against New Zealand in Hobart on January 15 -- the team's first victory on their tour of Australia.

The latest blow comes after a 13-month lay-off from international duty with knee problems.

''It has been very disappointing on this tour to have no problems with my right knee and then a hamstring comes about,'' he told the BBC.

DESPERATE TO PLAY ''I am desperate to play but we have to look at the future and certainly the next few weeks with the World Cup in mind.

''The medical staff have told me there is absolutely no doubt I will be on the plane for the World Cup.'' All-rounder Flintoff led the team in the 5-0 Ashes Test series defeat and was also skipper in the one-dayers Vaughan has missed.

Coach Duncan Fletcher told reporters on Wednesday that the team had greatly benefited from Vaughan's captaincy and that Flintoff performed better without the burden.

''He's captaining England successfully, which is very, very important,'' Fletcher said of Vaughan.

''You always worry (about missing) Michael because that experience is immense.'' Of Flintoff he said: ''We feel when he's not captain he feels a little bit freer and his batting -- especially his bowling -- is a lot more confident and there's a weight off his shoulders.

''He seems a lot more relaxed. Anyone who's not captain of the side would be a little bit more relaxed.'' REUTERS PM KP1342