Flintoff plays it safe

Skipper Andrew Flintoff bowled just four overs on the fourth day in Adelaide © Getty Images

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England coach Duncan Fletcher insisted Andrew Flintoff’s absence from the attack in the second Ashes Test was precautionary after he suffered some discomfort in his troublesome left ankle.

The England captain bowled only four overs on the fourth day at the Adelaide Oval despite his side battling nearly all day to finally dismiss Australia for 513 to gain a 38-run first-innings lead.

It prompted speculation Flintoff, who bowled 35 overs in the first Test and has sent down 26 in this, may be suffering a recurrence of the ankle problems which forced him into a second operation mid-summer and sidelined him for the second half of the season.

But Fletcher revealed Flintoff’s short spell, which was delivered before lunch, and his failure to return to the attack was not an indication of a a serious setback and confirmed that medical staff were not worried about his fitness.

Flintoff came off briefly during the final stages of Australia’s innings, but Fletcher stressed: “He just felt a slight discomfort there and he just wanted to make sure everything was all right.

“He came off and we just felt more comfortable with the other bowlers bowling.

“Andrew has played back-to-back Tests and he’s done quite a bit of bowling and he’s played quite a bit of cricket.

Duncan Fletcher is not overly concerned by Flintoff's ankle

“There are no worries at the moment but we’re going to have to wait and see over the next couple of days.”

England have been particularly careful to monitor Flintoff’s workload ever since he returned to action during the Champions Trophy in India last month and are mindful their captain has a history of breaking down when he does too much bowling.

But Fletcher insisted: “From the advice we’ve been given we’re not even going to send him for a scan at this stage - they feel it’s just having over-bowled in back-to-back Tests.

“He’s had this problem in the past, but the medical staff are pretty confident at the moment.

“He could have bowled today and there was a good chance he was going to take the new ball with (Steve) Harmison and was going back on to take it with (Glenn) McGrath and (Brett) Lee at the crease.”