Flintoff In Academy Fitness Bid

The all-rounder is behind schedule in his rehabilitation from the surgery with the opening Ashes Test against Australia less than a fortnight away.

Michael Vaughan is still recovering from a knee operation, while Darren Gough is making progress after also having a lengthy lay-off with knee problems.

It has placed too great a burden on physio Kirk Russell, prompting England's management to fly Flintoff to Adelaide to work under the Academy's medical staff in an attempt to get him fit from the Brisbane Test starting on November 7.

Coach Duncan Fletcher said: "Although Andrew's recovery programme is running behind schedule at present, we remain confident that he will be able to take part in the Ashes series.

"However, our physio Kirk Russell has a heavy workload at present due to the number of injuries in the squad and we feel that the medical team at the Academy are best placed to give Andrew the intensive one-to-one treatment he needs if he is to be fit for the first Test in Brisbane."

England are yet to decide whether a replacement is needed for Flintoff with the senior squad, but if he fails to recover for the start of the Test series they may consider calling up Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White.