Paul Collingwood has admitted he ''would like to be given the responsibility'' of taking over from Andrew Flintoff as England's vice-captain.

Although the Durham batsman said England do not usually appoint an official understudy to Michael Vaughan, coach Duncan Fletcher had confirmed before the World Cup that Flintoff would take the role in the skipper's absence.

The Lancastrian has now been stripped of his duties in the aftermath of his late-night drinking session and, with Vaughan's fitness still the subject of some doubt following almost a year of knee and hamstring problems, Fletcher could soon have a decision to make.

''Although Freddie has been relieved of the vice-captaincy there are no plans in place to appoint a new one. We do not usually have a vice-captain in the team,'' Collingwood said.

''If a deputy is needed for Michael Vaughan, I think the management will look at the team and make a decision from there.''

Batsman Andrew Strauss has experience of captaining at international level last year. But he is currently out of the first-choice XI, opening the door for Collingwood.

''I do not have a lot of captaincy experience in my professional career but the vice-captaincy is an important role and of course I would like to be given that responsibility.

''My priority, and that of the whole team now, is to concentrate on a must-win game next Saturday against Kenya.''

Pakistan Test batsman Younis Khan will be joining up with Yorkshire before for the start of the new season, writes DAVID WARNER.

That means Australian left-hander, Matthew Elliott, is unlikely to be called up as cover.

Younis had been due to arrive at Headingley Carnegie on May 7 because it was expected he would be playing for Pakistan in the World Cup until late April.

Pakistan's failure to reach the Super Eights stages, however, means that they will return home this week.