The one person in the world who knows exactly how his knee is is Michael David Graveney

The Mail on Sunday claims some in the camp doubt whether Vaughan will play again because of his knee injury.

But Graveney told BBC Five Live: "I've seen him batting in the nets so things are going in the right direction.

"Michael Vaughan is a crucial part of our team and I haven't had any information to suggest that there's anything dramatic happening."

The Yorkshire batsman, 31, has not played since breaking down during the first warm-up game in India.

It was a recurrence of the problem which forced him to leave the Pakistan tour before the one-dayers and return home for surgery in December.

He has done some light jogging and come through several net sessions but the England hierarchy have not set a date on when he is likely to return to action

However, Graveney added: "It's progressing. It's probably taking longer than people wanted it to but it's the right thing in terms of the bigger picture to show a bit of caution at this time.

"He's desperate to be back involved and although it's hard to do because it's a media story, I'd like to think we can give him as much space as possible.

"The one person in the world who knows exactly how his knee is is Michael; it's unhelpful to speculate in dramatic style.