England hope for early Flintoff decision

All-rounder Flintoff, 31, is to see specialist Andy Williams in London on Monday to assess the state of his right knee and whether he has a realistic chance of facing Australia one last time in Test cricket.

Despite being keen on playing at Headingley, where England were trounced by an innings and 80 runs, Flintoff was not deemed fit enough to fulfil his heavy workload over five days.

He will have a week of rest and ice treatment to prepare for next Thursday's fifth Test at the Brit Oval, but captain Andrew Strauss is keen for a clinical assessment of his chances of making a 79th and final appearance at the soonest opportunity.

"Hopefully we're in a better situation to get a result earlier for the final Test," Strauss said, of Flintoff.

"On the back of Edgbaston it was impossible to know too far out from this game whether he would be fit enough and it was unfortunate he wasn't quite fit enough.

"It will involve constant monitoring from the medical team again about how he's feeling and his state of mind is going to be important as well, and hopefully we'll know two or three days out from the Test match whether he's fit enough to play or not.

"He was bitterly disappointed here but obviously the decision was made having spoken to him and and what he felt his level of fitness was.

"He understood the situation completely clearly and I think he was very honest as to how fit he felt for this game.

"He's still desperate to play in that final Test but he realises he's got to be fit enough."