Flintoff suffers injury setback

Andrew Flintoff (left) has felt more soreness in his left ankle

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of Lancashire’s LV County Championship match at Sussex due to continuing problems with his left ankle.

Flintoff had hoped to prove his fitness for the third npower Test against West Indies next week after being forced to miss the opening two games of the series.

The 29-year-old had been practising in the nets this week in the hope of playing for his county as an all-rounder but he is still experiencing soreness.

Flintoff played for Lancashire as a specialist batsman against Yorkshire in the Friends Provident Trophy last week but missed their back-to-back games in the same competition over the weekend as a precaution.

England expressed their hope that he might be able to bowl this week but, after a net session at Hove on Tuesday and more overnight soreness, it was decided he should not be risked.

Flintoff will not be staying with Lancashire for the match and will now be assessed by the England and Wales Cricket Board medical team.

He has twice had surgery on the same troublesome left ankle in the past three years and missed the second half of last season.