Andrew Flintoff could be ruled out of next month's World Twenty20 due to his knee injury.

The Lancashire all-rounder was named in the England squad for the tournament, which begins on 5 June, despite suffering a torn meniscus while playing in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings last month.

The England and Wales Cricket Board insisted Flintoff would be fit but the 31-year-old said today: “I'd love to play in the Twenty20 but that might be too tight.

“I had an operation two weeks ago and I'm already off my crutches. The Ashes are a long way off and I'll be fine for them.”

However, Steve Harmison's chances of a recall for the Ashes series, which begins on 8 July, suffered another setback today when Durham coach Geoff Cook revealed the fast bowler would see a specialist about a shin problem.

Harmison missed today's Friends Provident Trophy match against Surrey at The Oval, and Cook said: “The problem has been getting worse and worse.”

England, meanwhile, were left kicking their heels as the rain set in to prevent any play on the second morning of the Second Test at Chester-le-Street.

England were strongly placed on 302 for two but if the selectors plan to use spin bowling as their major weapon to beat Australia later this summer they will probably regret not playing both Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar against the West Indies.

Swann and Panesar could have huge roles to play against the Aussies.

The early indications are that the pitch prepared at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, which hosts the first Ashes Test from July 8-12, will take spin early on.

Panesar was dropped from the present squad to accommodate the return of Ryan Sidebottom, which suggested England expected a seam-friendly pitch at the Riverside.

The flaw in their selection was exposed in the first hour. On a lifeless track reminiscent of England's tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, West Indies pacemen Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor failed to threaten with the new ball and spinners Chris Gayle and Sulieman Benn were in the attack before lunch.

Swann and Panesar, who were Northamptonshire team-mates until 2004, have played together in three Tests since December, taking 24 between them. But it remains to be seen whether they can become effective “spin twins” at the highest level.