By Martin Gough BBC Sport at Lord's

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the first Test against Zimbabwe with an injured shoulder.

Flintoff again finds himself forced to wait on the sidelines

Tests last Friday revealed bruising and swelling around the nerves within his right shoulder, and he failed to come through a vital practice session on Tuesday.

With England's only other experienced all-rounder, Yorkshire's Craig White, also unavailable after undergoing rib surgery, the uncapped Anthony McGrath looks set to take Flintoff's place.

England medical staff, who are said to be baffled by Flintoff's injury, will be seeking further medical opinion and have placed no time frame on a possible return to action.

The Lancashire all-rounder was struck on the shoulder by a beamer bowled in the nets at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.

Pace bowler Matthew Hoggard, meanwhile, expects to be fit to play despite an abdominal problem.

Hoggard, who pulled up during the final day of Yorkshire's Championship match against Northants, underwent an ultra-sound scan on Monday.

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The scan revealed strained abdominal muscles in his left side, but the right-armer told the BBC Sport website on Tuesday he felt "100%".

"It's something I suffered at the start of the season but I bowled 60 overs last week," he said.

"It's coming right at the right time."

Hoggard's improved well-being means squad member James Kirtley will probably be made to wait for his first cap.

Flintoff expressed his frustration at not having played in a Test match since last August.

"It's frustrating because I'd been working hard on my batting, I'd put a few scores together and I thought I was bowling well," he said.

"I was looking forward to playing Test cricket again but I'll have to hold on a bit longer."