England sweat on Flintoff knee scan

Andrew Flintoff's perennial injury problem has returned for England as the all-rounder became a major doubt for the Lord's Test starting on Thursday, after sustaining an injury during the drawn First Test at Cardiff.

The 31-year-old is awaiting the results of a scan on his right knee, but some reports claim that Flintoff could be out for the rest of the Ashes.

Fast bowler Steve Harmison was yesterday called into the England set-up as "like-for-like" cover for Flintoff after impressing against Australia for England Lions and for his positive season to date with county side Durham.

Meanwhile one of the few England players to emerge from the Cardiff Test with his reputation intact, batsman Paul Collingwood, has warned that the national side must show a marked improvement if they are to be competitive this series. "To be frank we've got to play a hell of a lot better."

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Derek Pringle, Daily Telegraph: "Flintoff had a precautionary scan on Monday and will be monitored by England’s medical staff over the next day or so in the lead up into Thursday’s second Test, but the omens do not look good. This was a knee operated upon at the end of April, after he hurt it playing in the Indian Premier League, and one that has swelled up after its first rigorous workout in a Test match. The official line from the England and Wales Cricket Board is that he twisted in it while in the field against Australia, which he and England did for a sapping 181 overs, of which he bowled 35."

Mike Selvey, the Guardian: "When the squad was announced for the first Test there was no Steve Harmison despite his aggression for the Lions against the tourists at Worcester. However, he was always part of the equation for back-to-back Tests as Lord's has provided more pace and bounce than has been seen for years. Wisely he was packed off to Durham, and he produced another five-wicket haul at Yorkshire. Yesterday he was duly added to the squad of 13 that had been chosen for Cardiff, with the return of Flintoff's knee problem giving the selectors, should they have felt they needed one to justify the return of a player who has frustrated everyone so often, a peg on which to hang his recall."

Mike Atherton, the Times: "Whisper it, although not if you happen to find yourself in Preston today, but the injury to Andrew Flintoff is not necessarily bad news for England. That is no longer the kind of heretical statement that would, once upon a time, have brought upon the perpetrator the Inquisition. There is now a general realisation that the talismanic all-rounder of four years ago is not as central to England's success as before. Like a second-hand car with plenty of miles on the clock, Flintoff's body has become unreliable. You can give it as many MOTs as you like but it is a truism that when you set off on a long journey, you are just not quite sure whether you will reach the destination." ·