Anderson and Flintoff set to learn injury fate

Anderson has joined Andrew Flintoff on the casualty list and both men are booked in for medical appointments today, the results of which could have a major bearing on a series now locked at 1-1.

"I've got a tight hamstring which I'm having scanned," Anderson told Standard Sport.

"I don't think it is too serious but it didn't allow me to bowl at 100 per cent at Headingley, which was very frustrating.

"I picked it up when I was batting in the first innings but hopefully it is just a strain and not something which will take a bit of time to heal. I'm optimistic but I'll know more after the scan."

Anderson failed to take a wicket during the Headingley Test - which Australia won by an innings and 80 runs - and admitted: "When I was running in the hamstring felt like it could go at any minute so I didn't want to push too hard and make it worse.

"But because of that I couldn't get any rhythm."

Despite drawing a blank in Leeds, Anderson remains a potential Ashes winner - as he showed at both Lord's and Edgbaston, where he took a total of nine first-innings wickets through top quality swing bowling.

Missing the Brit Oval Test would be a devastating blow for the 27-year-old. But he insisted: "I've not thought about that.

"I'm pretty confident the scan won't show too much and then with a lot of physiotherapy this week it will be fine by the time we get to The Oval next week and start practising a couple of days before the Test."

Flintoff, meanwhile, is now needed more than ever by England and their chances of regaining the Ashes will look slimmer still if it turns out he has already made his last appearance before retiring from Test cricket later this month.

The 'will he, won't he play' saga that dominated the build-up to Headingley cannot have helped England and captain Andrew Strauss is clearly hoping for an earlier resolution ahead of The Oval Test.

Flintoff was not officially ruled out until the morning of the game in Leeds.

At worst, today's appointment with a specialist could end the 31-year-old's Test career.

At best, it will indicate that his sore knee should be strong enough by next week to get through one last five-day game, which starts on Thursday week.

"Hopefully, we are in a better situation to get a result earlier for the final Test," said Strauss.

"All being well, we will know two or three days out whether he is fit enough to play in the Test.

"He's desperate to play but he realises that he's got to be fit enough and I'm very hopeful he will be."

As for Australia, they know their task at The Oval will be easier if Flintoff remains on the sidelines.

"England can win without Flintoff but I think they will find it hard without him," said captain Ricky Ponting.