Vaughan to join performance squad

Vaughan was awarded a central contract in September

Former England captain Michael Vaughan will join the national team's performance programme in India.

The 34-year-old was not in the original 15-man squad but is expected to fly out with them on 21 November.

Vaughan received a central contract in September but was left out of the two-Test series starting in India on 11 December and took a three-month break.

He is keen to force his way back into the squad for the series against the West Indies and Australia in 2009.

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England play a four-Test series in the West Indies, beginning in Jamaica on 4 February, before a home series - against Sri Lanka or West Indies - and then the Ashes later in the summer.

The England performance squad will be skippered by Kent's Robert Key and spinner Monty Panesar will also join them after his plans for a spell playing club cricket in Sri Lanka fell through.

England and Wales Cricket Board national selector Geoff Miller said when announcing the Test squad for the tour of India that Vaughan's poor form since stepping down as England captain meant he would not be included in the Test squad.

"Michael's place cannot be justified based on recent form," said Miller, who expected Vaughan to "work on his game".

Vaughan then announced his sabbatical from the game but recently hinted in his newspaper column that he would join the Performance Programme.

The senior England squad are currently in India, preparing for a seven-match one-day series before the two Tests.