No pain for Andrew Flintoff will mean gain for England as they head off for their winter commitments.

All-rounder Flintoff, 29, provided another injury scare when he left the field in Saturday's NatWest Series-clinching victory over India at Lord's after bowling a five-over spell.

His left ankle, operated on three times since early 2005, felt funny but he returned to bowl at the death after having the joint re-strapped by physio Kirk Russell.

Flintoff highlighted his worth by sending back India captain Rahul Dravid and star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, the second via a disputed caught behind decision, to set England on the way to a seven-wicket win.

He finished with figures of three for 45 and will continue to turn out for his country as long as he does not experience discomfort - on the advice of the surgeon who examined him last week.

Coach Peter Moores emphasised the difference made to the England one-day team made by Flintoff, who will perhaps have to get used to the ankle never being 100 per cent right.

''He has come through with not so much pain but a bit of instability still in the ankle,'' said Moores. ''We were a bit worried so we've had it checked out by the doctors.

''It hasn't swollen up, which is a very good sign, it just felt a bit strange when he was bowling. We have to make sure we are not doing damage to Fred's ankle.

''While he is in that situation we can keep managing it, work with it and make sure it feels right to play with, which for Fred is quite important.''

England arrive in South Africa for the World Twenty20 today and Flintoff will continue to work on straightening his front foot in delivery stride in a bid to take some pressure off the ankle.

The difference in foot position was evident as England completed a 4-3 series success, their first in one-day cricket on home soil since 2004.

''The fact that he is not doing damage to it is really quite promising,'' Moores said.

''He bowled well, with good speed and the position of his ankle was pretty good as well, as it wasn't turning quite so much.''

Having missed the entire international summer prior to the one-day summer finale - then three of those matches - Flintoff will no doubt be torn between relief to be back and frustration at nursing himself through.

''Realistically he is going to have to work with what he's got,'' added Moores.

''Although it is frustrating in some ways that he didn't feel absolutely perfect he got through the game and played a big part in bowling the Indians out.

''We are hoping as we go along that we get to know more about him operating with how the ankle is at the moment. We hope it gets easier because he gets used to it and the medical team get the right brace or the right strapping to make him able to play.

''One thing Fred has got in his favour is that he doesn't need to practise a lot to keep his consistency. He has got a very natural length, a very natural action and he doesn't need a lot of bowling which will help with management between games."

Ironically, England's two best players over the last seven one-day games, Ian Bell and James Anderson, were not originally selected to travel to Johannesburg.

Anderson has since been drafted in as a replacement but Bell, who had packed his bags in hope of a late call, will next join up with the squad this month for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.

Moores hinted both would have been automatic choices had the 20-over party been named at a later date than early August.

''I never realised how good a player he actually was,'' Moores conceded of Bell, who hit 422 runs to claim the NatWest man-of-the-series award.

''You see that very clearly when you work with him. He is a very talented player and he is starting to get that out and starting to produce very consistent performances.

''Jimmy has grown quickly. As a player he has moved on a lot, not just with his bowling but with his fielding and general contribution to the team, which has been outstanding all series.''

Bell and Anderson appear shoo-ins for two of this year's central contracts, due to be announced today alongside the one-day unit for Sri Lanka.

Left-armer Ryan Sidebottom may come under pressure with the need for an extra spinner for Asian conditions, having been sidelined with a side strain since the end of the Test series defeat.

He has been replaced by Dimitri Mascarenhas for trip to South Africa, while Chris Tremlett (foot) has been given the all-clear.