Flintoff plays waiting game

England's talisman is facing a more uncertain future than ever after a fourth operation on his left ankle in less than three years.

Surgery in Holland to remove fragments of bone which were pressing on Flintoff's tendon confirms he must never again rush back prematurely in his desire to play for his country.

Clearly, the third operation, undertaken as recently as May, did nothing to ease the chronic condition. The only hope of Flintoff making a full recovery now is a lengthy period of rest as well as recuperation.

Peter Moores, the England coach, attempted to talk up the positives yesterday in Colombo after one of England's most impressive one- day series victories in years ended with the whimper of a 107-run defeat at the Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

It cost them the chance to move from seventh to fourth in the one-day international rankings.

But clearly the success or otherwise of this operation by Professor Niek van Dijk will determine once and for all whether Flintoff can continue as a genuine all-rounder or be forced to contemplate retirement, or soldiering on as a batsman - probably just with Lancashire.

"There has been a positive to this in the fact they have found something in the ankle," said Moores, after England had celebrated a 3-2 series win over Sri Lanka. "It has been really frustrating for Andrew in that he has had pain but they did not really know what it was. He has a great chance of a full recovery, but I don't want to put a time frame on it because it is not something we want to rush. We want to make sure it is right."

That is clearly the most sensible option for the sake of Flintoff's career.

England are hoping Flintoff will recover in time for next summer's domestic programme against New Zealand and South Africa. If he is not 100 per cent certain he is ready then it is surely best to wait, for another year if necessary, until it is absolutely certain he will be able to bowl at 90 miles per hour pain-free or, if not, call it a day.

Moores ruled out the remodelling of Flintoff's action that was recommended by Allan Donald before he decided to join Warwickshire instead of England.

"There is no evidence that a wholesale change to his action will make the ankle any better anyway," added Moores.

England confirmed that the vacancy left by Donald will be filled on a permanent basis by Ottis Gibson, who will retire as a player with Durham after a golden year in which he took 80 first-class wickets, including all 10 in an innings against Hampshire, and became the PCA Player of the Year at the age of 38.

The fact Gibson, who impressed in Sri Lanka, was announced as 'bowling coach' rather than consultant, as was Donald's description, is further evidence that Kevin Shine is now in the background, whatever protestations the ECB make as to the importance of his role in developing fast bowlers.