Nixon says Vaughan will play

Paul Nixon has hit two unbeaten innings in the World Cup © Getty Images

England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon has said that Michael Vaughan will be fit to lead the team in their vital World Cup match against Kenya on Saturday. Vaughan tripped in a pot-hole on Tuesday and required treatment on his right knee, but concerns over another injury were quickly allayed.

And Nixon, who was one of the six players fined after their late night before the Canada match, said: "Michael had a little trip on a sprinkler but he's fine, he's 100 percent." Vaughan has twice looked in decent form with scores of 26 and 45 against New Zealand and Canada before throwing his wicket away on both occasions.

Nixon, who has also been in strong batting form early in the tournament, is keen to put the issues of the past week behind him and move forward. "I think anything like this brings guys together," he said. "There's a lot of honesty and openness in the dressing room and that's important going forward."

He also gave his version of events on that Friday night in St Lucia. "Obviously I've apologised to Duncan Fletcher for being out too late after a game and we've moved on as a team and Duncan's accepted that. I had a reasonably quiet night but stayed out too long in the public domain. I've learnt my lesson, held my hands up, apologised and we'll take it from there.

"Cricket is a game that can kick you in the backside at any stage if you don't stay focused and it's important we stay focused and move forward from what's happened. We've got to take every game as a huge event and try to win this World Cup."

England are now involved in a shoot-out with Kenya, who they play on Saturday, for the second qualifying spot alongside New Zealand that would see them into the second phase, Super Eight stage. Nixon said England could take heart from the way in which the Black Caps thrashed Kenya by 148 runs on Tuesday. "Every game is a tricky game. New Zealand and ourselves are very closely matched and we'll be doing our homework."