Flintoff took five wickets during the Test series in the West Indies

England will be boosted by the return of Andrew Flintoff ahead of their one-day series against the West Indies.

The all-rounder returned home after picking up a hip injury in the third Test in Antigua, but will rejoin the England squad in Trinidad on Tuesday.

England cricket chief Hugh Morris said: "He will continue his treatment over here with a view to hopefully playing a part in the one-day series."

England are without Ryan Sidebottom, who is replaced by Amjad Khan.

Khan, who is making his Test debut at the Queen's Park Oval, will replace Sidebottom who is out with an Achilles injury.

England will contest a one-off Twenty20 match in Trinidad before the start of the five-match limited-overs series on 20 March.

Flintoff's return will give England a significant fillip ahead of the first 50-over match in Guyana.

The 30-year-old sustained a muscle strain in his right hip in the drawn third Test at St John's and returned to England for further treatment.

But Morris said the England and Wales Cricket Board's medical team has been satisfied with his progress.

"He has been under the leadership of our chief medical officer Nick Pierce, and Nick is pleased with the way he has been going."

606: DEBATE Can England's bowlers salvage something from the tour?

The prognosis was less encouraging for Sidebottom, who has endured a frustrating 12 months with various injuries restricting his involvement with the England team.

The 31-year-old has suffered a combination of hip, groin and back problems since July.

He managed just one wicket in his two Tests on this tour, in Jamaica and Barbados and was left out of the final Test.

"Ryan's had problems with his Achilles for a little while now and we feel its best served for him to go back and get some intensive treatment," Morris added.

"Obviously it disappointing he won't be available for the one-day series, but with the amount of cricket we have coming up in England we will feel he needs to go back and get treatment with a view to him being ready for the summer."

Graeme Swann has already been ruled out of the five-match series as he requires surgery on an elbow injury.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version