Colly wobbles over Freddie blow

Flintoff delivered his bombshell on Friday, during a washed-out second day of the second npower Test against West Indies - leaving Twenty20 captain Paul Collingwood already considering a campaign without his most obvious match-winner.

Following Flintoff's revelation his schedule might prove "too tight", Collingwood said: "I think we're still waiting on how his fitness will be over the next couple of weeks. It would obviously be a big blow if he's not in it, but we'll have to overcome it."

Collingwood acknowledges Flintoff's absence would leave a big hole.

"He's very much two players in one - as I've always said," he explained.

"It would be a huge blow if he wasn't going to be fit, but we certainly have the players in the squad to overcome that in many ways."

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier, meanwhile, was confirming talks with Pakistan to play a four-Test series in this country next summer - with the possibility of those tourists also 'hosting' two more Tests against Australia here in 2010.

Collier confirmed: "Yes, we are talking to Pakistan. We anticipate that that agreement is very close.

"We've still got to tie up the details with Pakistan, but the schedule is feasible.

"I think we've also got a broader responsibility to the global game. We all recognise that Pakistan are having an issue in terms of being able to stage their home matches."