Vaughan still has England ambitions

Michael Vaughan has vowed to return to the England team in time for next year's Ashes series and confirmed he is likely to go on England Lions' tour to India this winter.

The 33-year-old resigned the national captaincy in August and it was confirmed last week he would not be picked for the senior squad's tour to the sub-continent after struggling to regain his form.

Vaughan wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "I'm going to dedicate the next year to getting back into the England team."

Vaughan is taking a three-month break from Test cricket but could tour with England's second string in a bid to force his way back into the team for the Test series in the West Indies early next year.

He continued: "I'm giving myself until November 10 to decide my best way back. To be the best player I can be my decision making has to be spot-on, and I felt recently I was making some wrong decisions as captain and a batsman.

"The hunger is still there all right - I'm mad to get back into the England team.

"The next opportunity I get to establish myself in the England side will probably be my last, so if and when I do get back, I'll have to score runs immediately.

"To get selected I'll have to make big, consistent runs first - and at this stage, the England Lions trip to India pre-Christmas would probably be favourite, to see if I can force my way into the team to go to the West Indies before the Ashes."