Now side strain rules jinxed Flintoff out of first two Kiwi Tests

And the side strain he suffered while trying so hard to show why he should regain his place 16 months after his last game at the top level, means he might never play another Test at his home ground of Old Trafford.

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Flintoff had the full backing of skipper Michael Vaughan to return to England action in the opening Test at Lord's starting on Thursday, following a winter spent in intensive rehab following a fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle.

Despite the reservations expressed by England legend Ian Botham, the Lancashire all-rounder had declared himself fit for selection for the squad to be announced today and Vaughan was ready to support his claims to play.

But now it appears Flintoff has paid the price for his eagerness to show his abilities with the ball.

He said: 'I'm bitterly disappointed as I'm really enjoying my cricket with Lancashire and feel my bowling has been improving with each match. I've put in a lot of hard work to get to this point after surgery and I know I can overcome what isn't a significant injury. I want nothing more than to return to the England side and will continue to do everything required to make myself available.'

England's selection problems do not end with Flintoff. Shoulder and back complaints mean there are doubts over Paul Collingwood's ability to bowl at Lord's and they may add Ravi Bopara or Luke Wright as back-up to the XI that won the third Test at Napier in March.

Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose is expected to shrug off a neck problem.

While Flintoff and England will continue to hope he can be fit to play in the third Test at Trent Bridge starting on June 5, his only chance of doing so is to prove his fitness in Lancashire's Championship match against Roses rivals Yorkshire at Headingley a week earlier.

And as long as England live up to their pre-series tag as favourites in the first two Tests against the Kiwis, England may opt to err on the side of caution and allow him to continue his rehab in the five weeks of Twenty20 and one-day international action that follow prior to the first Test against South Africa at Lord's on July 10.

As for playing Test cricket again at his Lancashire home ground, he may not get the chance. Missing the second Test against New Zealand starting there on Friday May 23 is bad enough. But Old Trafford is then off the rota at least until 2010, when it faces competition from Lord's, by which time he will be 32.