BBC’S OLIVE BRANCH TO UNDER-FIRE VAUGHAN

THE BBC threw Michael Vaughan a lifeline yesterday by saying they would continue to work with him next year… before the former England captain revealed he has Covid. Vaughan was dropped from the Test Match Special team after being caught up in Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of racism at Yorkshire, with the BBC insisting his position as a commentator was compromised by his involvement. He has been axed by the BBC for the Ashes. The former England captain is still due to work on TV coverage of the Ashes for Australia’s Fox Sports but, as Sportsmail revealed last week, BT will not use their commentary when Vaughan is involved. That means BT are hastily recruiting their own commentary team, with Ian Bell expected to be a late addition. Vaughan tweeted yesterday that he had tested positive for Covid and would delay his arrival in Australia. If he is ruled out of commentating for the first two Tests, as is now expected, BT would use the full Fox commentary.