Moores urging caution over Flintoff return

The England coach is all too aware of all-rounder Flintoff's fierce determination to play as much cricket as possible having missed most of the season recovering from another operation on his troublesome left ankle.

Flintoff's desire manifested itself in two outstanding bowling displays against India at the Rose Bowl and Bristol, which have included regular speeds above 90mph and the first five-wicket haul of his one-day international career during Friday's thrilling defeat at the County Ground.

But it has come at a price with 29-year-old Flintoff injuring his right knee on Friday, which resulted in him having an anti-inflammatory cortisone injection and has made him doubtful for today's third match of the series at Edgbaston.

He failed to bowl or take part in fielding practice yesterday but batted and coach Moores has admitted that common sense may play a crucial part in deciding whether he is fit enough to play.

"He's very keen to play, as he would be because he's missed a lot of cricket and wants to get out there, but I think we have to make sure we balance it over a long series,'' admitted Moores.

''They've looked at the injury and they don't seem to be that concerned about anything long term. We just have to make sure that if we know there's no risk in him playing then we can go ahead but if we think it's more sensible to miss a game then that's what we'll do.''

With the ICC World Twenty20 Championships due to start in just over a fortnight and a five-match one-day series to follow in Sri Lanka, England are bound to be very conservative in their approach to Flintoff's return.

But Moores is also aware of his massive value to the side, particularly in the one-day format where he provides pace and aggression both as first change bowler and in the vital death overs at the end of the innings.

Then there is Flintoff's eagerness to make up for lost time by playing as many games for England as possible, leaving Moores in a tricky situation.

Moores admitted: ''It will be tough to tell him that, but like most of these things, they work themselves out.

''Fred's played a lot of cricket and knows his body and you trust the player to a degree and take all the other opinions on board.

''He's keen to play but he also knows there's a lot of cricket to come and he doesn't want to miss out on that cricket. Between myself, Fred and the medical team we'll make the right call.''

England insist Flintoff's latest injury setback is not connected with his troublesome ankle.

Moores stressed: ''The ankle seems to be great and he's had no pain from it at all - as much as anything, when you play an international game the intensity level goes up.

''If you saw him bowl at the Rose Bowl he came running in bowling at 90mph as he would because he's desperate to play for England. That's a different level of intensity to county cricket and maybe it's just a bit of a reaction to parts of your body getting used to operating at that level again.

''I've been really pleased with him so far. He's got straight in there but he's also been a really good influence around the team as well.

''It's great to have him back and he's got a lot of experience of one-day cricket, which is good to share with the other lads and he's very passionate about playing so they're the ingredients you want from all your players.''

Should Flintoff fail today's fitness test, England are most likely to draft in Middlesex batsman Owais Shah.

England are also expected to recall left-arm spinner Monty Panesar as a replacement for expensive seamer Chris Tremlett.

''It's rare to go in without a spinner like last time,'' added Moores. ''It's not something you do very often. We made that call and if it's the right one or not, who knows?

''We did it because we thought the extra bounce of Tremlett and the size of the boundaries we thought it might be the best way forward. This looks much more like a normal size ground so there is much more chance that Monty will play."