The Ashes:Andrew Flintoff is expected to be fit for the fifth npower Test against Australia after swelling on his right knee eased, the England and Wales Cricket Board have announced. The all-rounder missed the fourth Test at Headingley due to injury but is set to return for the match which England must win to regain the Ashes.
According to the ECB, Flintoff will be ready for The Oval contest providing he carries on with ongoing treatment and takes sufficient rest.
Flintoff’s condition was assessed by his specialist today.
An ECB statement said: “The advice received was that the swelling in his knee has significantly eased following the decision by the England management team to rest him from the last Test match and that subject to further rest and intensive treatment, he will be available for selection for the fifth npower Ashes Test at The Brit Oval.”
Flintoff’s Lancashire colleague James Anderson is also expected to be fit for the series decider, after a scan on his hamstring showed no serious damage.
England coach Andy Flower had earlier defended the decision to drop Flintoff in the wake of criticism from the player’s agent, Chubby Chandler.
Flower and captain Andrew Strauss made the decision not to select Flintoff on the eve of the match, concerned at his ability to last the course.
“He wanted to play, he was desperate to play but he acknowledged that he wasn’t fully fit and he was struggling a bit, so we couldn’t play him under those circumstances,” reflected Flower.
“If the advice is that he will be fit enough to take part as an all-rounder at The Oval then we will listen to that advice and listen to Fred’s information about his own body as well.”
Flower is adamant the uncertainty over Flintoff’s condition could not be blamed as a destabilising factor at Headingley — because they have got used to his ongoing knee injury.
“I don’t think it had a significant effect because we have gone the whole series waiting on his fitness and this match was no different really,” he said.