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England will not gamble on Andrew Flintoff's fitness for next week's Ashes decider even though he had offered to play in the Fourth Test.
The all-rounder missed the heavy Headingley defeat due to his troublesome knee and both he and Jimmy Anderson - who picked up a hamstring injury - are having tests today which could reveal their chances of facing Australia a week on Thursday.
With England needing to win at The Brit Oval to reclaim the urn, the clamour for Flintoff, who retires from Test cricket at the end of the series, to be brought back will grow.
But national selector Geoff Miller today insisted that he would not be swayed by the unique nature of the occasion facing Flintoff.
"We know Andrew is passionate about playing for England but we have to work with other things, such as medical advice," said Miller.
"Before Headingley, we were told there was still a problem with the knee, so we had to accept that viewpoint. Andrew knows there is a problem and we will monitor it day by day. He has to be able to do the job required by the captain and guarantee that he can bowl the overs he is needed to bowl."
Flintoff's agent, Andrew Chandler, revealed today the all-rounder declared himself fit for Headingley - only for captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower to decide he could not play a full part in the game.
Chandler said: "I've never seen anybody as low as Flintoff was on Thursday night when he was told he would not be selected.
"He told them that he was fit enough to get through but they didn't want him. He was prepared to do whatever it takes, to put whatever needed to be put into his knee."
Reader views (4)
I could not understand why england just didnt have bash at every ball insead of standing like statues they had nothing to loose
- Richard Edmunds, Rayleigh Essex, 10/08/2009 13:50
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Agents should stay out of sporting comments completely. Their only motive is money, after all, not fair play or honesty
- Keith Price, Luton England, 10/08/2009 13:32
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It does seem rather odd that Flintoff was left out and England just collapsed and played nothing like they have done for the last few tests. Personally, I think there should be a investigation into match fixing, so bad was the performance. Keep in mind it wouldn't have done much for gate recipts for the remaining matches had England sewn up the Ashes so soon into the series.
- Hansel, London, 10/08/2009 08:51
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SO WAS MARK RAMPRAKASH BUT THROUGHOUT THE AGES WHEN HAVE ENGLANDS SELECTORS DONE THE RIGHT THING? ALSO WHY NOT PICK THE BEST CAPTAIN AND OPENING BAT KEY
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 10/08/2009 08:50
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