Vaughan: England target

But I've said it before, I will be playing cricket somewhere this winter, hopefully it's with England but if not it'll be somewhere else.

Michael Vaughan
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Michael Vaughan is desperate to pull on an England shirt again during the winter tour to India, telling Sky Sports News about his new chapter in his career without the captaincy.

Vaughan has stepped down from leading England and handed over to Kevin Pietersen, but the Yorkshire batsman still aims to be an England player.

Many thought Pietersen had a big hand in Vaughan being handed a central contract despite a distinct lack of runs since returning to Yorkshire, but he has two games left of the County Championship to play his way back into form.

Vaughan says that the selectors showed their faith in him by handing him a central contract, but feels top form is just around the corner.

"I said that maybe I was lucky because I haven't had the greatest of years but the selectors have been faithful and have obviously gone on what they believe I can do," Vaughan told Sky Sports News.

Form

"I feel I'm getting close to showing some form, form is only temporary after all, and I'm hitting the ball pretty well but you have to go out in the middle and scores runs and hopefully over that's what ill be able to do over the next two weeks.

"It's not desperation stage it's just trying to get that rhythm."

The winter is massively important both for Vaughan and England as both look towards next summer's Ashes, and a first step also for both parties would be a good performance in India.

"It's a very important winter heading into next year's Ashes," Vaughan added.

"This winter is crucial for the team to start winning and get into the habit of winning leading into what should be a great summer next year.

"I've got two games for Yorkshire to try and get myself selected for India. If I am selected then there's the development team the lions going to India early to play some cricket and I would join them and try and play two weeks of cricket before joining the squad for the Tests in India.

"But I've said it before, I will be playing cricket somewhere this winter, hopefully it's with England but if not it'll be somewhere else."

Millions

England and Pietersen's next big assignment will be in the Caribbean for the mega-money Twenty20 match bankrolled by Sir Allen Stanford.

"I'll be in the Caribbean," said Vaughan. "But I'll be on the beach in Barbados sunning myself and holidaying with my family and they'll be in Antigua playing for the million bucks - it's going to be a great spectacle and I'll be watching it.

"With the Stanford team the majority are in the Test team anyway,

"I think that's a good sign for the team that most guys are playing in both forms of the game so it won't cause a rift, it's just a great opportunity for the guys to go and entertain a few people and try to win a million bucks."