England v India: Michael Vaughan 'fears' for Simon Kerrigan

Kerrigan bowled eight overs at a cost of 53 runs in his debut match against Australia

Former England captain Michael Vaughan says he fears for Simon Kerrigan if the Lancashire spinner plays in the second Test against India at Lord's.

Kerrigan suffered a nightmare debut in last year's Ashes but returns to the England squad for this week's match.

Vaughan believes the 25-year-old is not ready to win his second cap.

"I fear for Simon Kerrigan," Vaughan told Radio 5 live Sport. "England have thrown him back into international cricket far too soon."

Kerrigan was surprisingly selected for the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval last year but failed to justify his inclusion as he conceded 53 runs from just eight overs.

He never recovered from a brutal early assault from Australian batsman Shane Watson as his first two overs went for 28 runs.

Vaughan says a repeat of that experience could be fatal to Kerrigan's international career.

"If the second one goes badly, he can never come back from that again," the former England opener said.

"If he goes out on Thursday and it's like that situation against Watson, he won't come back from that for a long time."

Kerrigan has taken 28 wickets for Lancashire this season at an average of 34.25, but Vaughan believes the left-armer should be left to learn his trade at county level.

"He's not pulled up any trees for Lancashire this season," said Vaughan. "Why rush the lad back in?

"Throwing him out to bowl at Lord's against an Indian batting line-up who can play spin with their eyes shut... I just think is unfair."

Former England spin bowler Phil Tufnell argued England were right to pick the player if they felt he was good enough.

However, he felt Kerrigan was now in "a horrible position", adding: "I don't know how that's affecting him."

England are searching for a spinner following the retirement of Graeme Swann last year and have turned to batsman Moeen Ali as a part-time option in this summer's Tests against Sri Lanka and India.

Swann believes that the additional workload on the England seamers may force coach Peter Moores to turn to Kerrigan, whom he coached during his stint at Lancashire.

"I think he'll play," Swann said. "By all accounts, he's bowled very well in the nets and Peter Moores rates him very highly. Moeen's just not up to it as a spinner at the moment."

Seamers Chris Jordan and Chris Woakes are the other options if Moores wishes to change the team that drew the first Test at Trent Bridge.