Strauss set to lead England in place of Vaughan

London, May 6 (UNI) Left-handed opening batsman Andrew Strauss is all set to captain England in the first Test against West Indies at Lords after 'cursed' skipper Michael Vaughan was ruled out of the match due to a broken finger.

According to a report in 'The Sun', Strauss, who earlier led Englnad to 3-0 series whitewash against Pakistan last summer, is the preferred candidate to take up Vaughan's position after axed vice-captain Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the post over his recent drunken pedalo antics in Caribbean.

Even doubts looms large over the 32-year-old Englishman's availabilty in the second test after he fractured the middle finger of his right hand following hit by a Stuart Clark delivery while batting for Yorkshire against Hampshire on Thursday.

''It looks like he might be out for three to four weeks, but it's too early to say with absolute certainty,'' said Yorkshire physio Scott McAllister.

''It's desperately bad luck for Michael after the succession of problems he's had,'' he added.

UNI