Most England fans would settle for the prospect of having Michael Vaughan back in charge of the Test team for next year’s Ashes series, but they can also contemplate the possibility that he will be around for the Ashes series after that, too. Vaughan, who missed last winter’s 5-0 whitewash in Australia during his 18-month injury layoff, stated his intention yesterday to be part of the team for the Ashes series in 2010-11, by which time he will be 36.

“I’m fitter than I’ve been for years and I have the ambition to go on beyond 2009,” he said. “I’m looking at playing Australia in Australia next time. I’d still like to be playing at that stage.”

Vaughan, the Test captain, leaves for New Zealand on Wednesday and believes that his absence from England’s one-day team has helped to prolong his career. “If I’d continued playing as a captain and touring for four or five years, I’d probably have had mental burnout,” he said. “It was starting to take its toll. Now I enjoy having some time off, just training and looking after the body.”