Trescothick to lead England

Trescothick will be tossing up with Stephen Fleming

Marcus Trescothick will captain England in the Lord's Test against New Zealand with Michael Vaughan ruled out by a knee injury sustained on Monday.

It will be the first time he has led England in a Test, but he has done the job twice in one-day internationals.

"It's a huge honour doing it at the home of cricket for the first Test of the series," he commented.

A decision will be made later on whether Andrew Strauss or Mark Butcher will open with Trescothick.

Vaughan has been limping after twisting his knee in the nets at Lord's.

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At the time, the injury caused him a considerable amount of pain, and although an initial scan did not reveal serious injury, it is an area that has troubled him in the past.

In 2002, he underwent an operation to repair torn cartilage in the joint, and made a slow recovery afterwards.

"In terms of Michael not being around, it's obviously a major hole and a disappointment he's not leading the side out," said Trescothick.

"I presume it will be for one game only. Michael is icing the injury and doing everything he can to get back for the second Test."

The England management do not appear to be entirely sure how they will fill the void created by Michael Vaughan's knee injury The BBC's Jonathan Agnew Read his entire column

With both Strauss and Durham's Paul Collingwood named in what is now an England squad of 12, there is a possibility both could play in an extended batting line-up, with Ashley Giles missing out.

But a more likely prospect is that one of Strauss or Collingwood will be sent back to their counties.

Butcher is keen to stay at number three, rather than take on the opening role.

He said: "Duncan asked me on Monday and I said if possible I would rather stay where I am, so he knows how I feel about it.

"Obviously if that is the option they want to go for then I will do it but I would rather stay at three.

"A major part of Test cricket is stability in your mind. Since coming back into the side I have been very comfortable batting at three and it has coincided with my most successful period in the England team.

"I actually prefer batting at three now, having spent most of my career as an opener."

It is the first time an England captain has been forced out of a Test through injury since the 2001 Ashes series when Michael Atherton deputised for Nasser Hussain.