Swann backs Flintoff to deliver

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England's leading off-spinner admitted being as concerned as the rest of the Lord's crowd as Flintoff struggled through 17 overs with the Australians moving to within 209 runs of victory with five wickets remaining.

But Swann, a long-term friend, has calmed fears about the involvement of Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, saying: "You don't have to worry about injury with Fred. Every time he goes off the field and comes back on, you think 'is that going to be the end of him?' and he bowls at 95 miles per hour again."

He added: "KP had a stiff back but he came back out because he is desperate to be out there with all the boys. As far as we are concerned there are no problems there with injury."

The triple injury scare - Graham Onions also has an elbow problem - added to England's frustration after Australia slumped to 128 for five, only to recover with an undefeated 185-run partnership between Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin which leaves them 209 runs adrift from an unlikely victory.

"When you play Australia you don't expect them to lay down and die," said Swann. "We were on cloud nine at one point, having them five wickets down, but you expect a good partnership at some stage on a good pitch, which is what it still is out there.

"For Australia to win this game they will have to break a world record and that's a very tough ask.

"They are in a much better position than they could have been but with a new ball and everyone fit and firing we have a chance for wickets because the first session is when they tend to tumble."