Vaughan may step down as captain

England’s selectors will name the squad for the final Test against South Africa .

Courtesy BBC

And BBC Sport understands Michael Vaughan may not be captain for The Oval after a poor run of form with the bat and three defeats in five series.

The 1300 announcement is certain to be significant. Usually, in the middle of a series, Oval are announced via a simple media release.

Vaughan may have chosen to resign his position after five years in the role.

It may be a permanent resignation, or he may seek to regain his form at domestic level with a view to being captain again for the winter tours.

The selectors are unlikely to have sacked him with one match to go in the series.

South Africa clinched a 2-0 series win with one to play with a five-wicket victory at Edgbaston on Saturday.

And England team managing director Hugh Morris did not guarantee the position of out-of-form captain Michael Vaughan.

We have an incredibly important 12 months ahead of us Hugh Morris Managing director, England team

Morris told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Later today we will have to consider the best way forward for the England team.”

Asked whether or not that included a future with Vaughan as captain, Morris replied: “Michael has been the most successful Test captain England have ever had.

“The critical thing is that will be sitting down with Michael and the selectors to plot the way forward. It was a significant blow to lose the series to South Africa.”

Morris desribed the series defeat as “desperately disappointing”.

He added: “We had high hopes after two wins in two previous Tests against New Zealand so clearly the selectors will be talking this through.

“We have an incredibly important 12 months ahead of us.”

That period incorporates tours of India and West Indies, before England host the ICC World Twenty20 in June 2009 and then attempt to win back the Ashes later that summer.

BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew had earlier said he did not think Vaughan – given assurances about his immediate future by coach Peter Moores on Saturday – would be dropped.

But he added that England might seek to add another potential captain to the squad for The Oval, with one eye on the future, and suggested Kent skipper Rob Key getting a possible recall.

That would inevitably put pressure on another member of the top three, presumably Andrew Strauss, while there might also be a new wicketkeeper and some bowling reinforcement.

Agnew said: “England have now lost to three of their last four opponents, so perhaps it is a good thing that this dead game presents itself as an opportunity for the selectors to take proper stock of the situation.

“If no changes are made there will again be accusations of a closed shop but I sense the mood for a shake-up and the time is right.”