Retiring Flintoff ‘won’t be risked’ for sentiment

ENGLAND have ruled out any prospect of sentiment influencing their selection for today’s second Ashes Test and will only include Andrew Flintoff in their Lord’s plans if he has fully recovered from knee trouble.

All-rounder Flintoff’s announcement that he intends to retire from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes summer and his eagerness to play in all the remaining Tests of the series has increased the pressure on England as he attempts to prove his fitness.

Having had three cortisone injections in his right knee on Monday, Flintoff bowled for the first time since reporting discomfort during the opening Test and is “hopeful” of being passed fit to play in his final Lord’s Test.

But there will be no sentiment involved in England’s selection criteriatomorrow with captain Andrew Strauss insisting every player must be fit if they are to improve on their performance in Cardiff and compete with Australia over the next five days.

“When you go in with three seamers you’ve got to expect all three of them to be able to bowl a lot of overs,” said Strauss.

“I think Fred understands that and this week in all likelihood there’ll befour seamers and maybe he won’t have as big a workload. At the same time we would never play any bowler in a Test match who we didn’t feel could contribute as fully as anybody else.”

For all of England’s pragmatism about Flintoff’s farewell to Lord’s, Strauss is relishing the atmosphere that will be created at each ground by the crowd’s reaction to him.

“There’ll be people who have supported him over the years who will be very keen to show their appreciation,” said Strauss.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, meanwhile, hopes his side can benefit from this current Ashes series turning into an Flintoff roadshow.

“For us, knowing the stature he has in the game in England then I can see it turning into that,” said Ponting.

“Whenever he plays a game you get the feeling of the crowd getting involved and loving seeing him play.

“You can see the here are very passionate about watching him.

“If they know this is his last chance to play here, his last chance to play Edgbaston, and last chance to play Headingley, I am sure there will be a bit of a circus around.

“It could create some distractions but that is not for us to worry about.

“I have been in teams when it has happened and it can be a distraction not only for the person involved but for the captain as well.”