BBC SPORT | Cricket | The Ashes | Flintoff out of first Test

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Craig White has been named to take the all-rounder's spot in the final England team for the first Ashes Test, ahead of the injured Andrew Flintoff.

The Lancastrian has struggled to recover from surgery on a double hernia, and White was called up as cover two weeks ago.

We had concerns about how his body would react in a five-day game

Duncan Fletcher

England announced their team on Wednesday morning, just hours after Australia revealed their starting XI.

The hosts opted for the consistency of Andy Bichel ahead of the raw pace of Brett Lee.

Lee left out of Ashes opener

Flintoff admitted to being stiff after bowling 18 overs during the opening day of this week's drawn match with Queensland.

And he seemed to be struggling in the nets on Wednesday morning, prompting the decision by coach Duncan Fletcher, captain Nasser Hussain and physio Kirk Russell.

"We had a tough choice to make in the all-rounder position between Andrew Flintoff and Craig White," Fletcher admitted.

Andrew Flintoff and Craig White
White (right) has edged ahead of Flintoff

"But we just felt that the first Test has come round a couple of days too early for Andrew following his comeback from a hernia operation.

"We had concerns about how his body would react to the demands of a five-day game."

England may now seek to organise a grade cricket match this weekend for Flintoff to give him further practice.

The next tour match, against Australia A in Hobart, begins on November 15, and he could still return for the second Test in Adelaide a week later.

White was overlooked in New Zealand a year ago, but was recalled for the opening two Tests against India this summer.

But he was unable to continue playing after suffering an abdominal strain when scoring an unbeaten 94 at Trent Bridge.

Profile: Craig White

Any chance for England? Have your say

England opted to retain a four-strong pace attack, along with Ashley Giles' spin, rather than include the in-form Robert Key as a seventh batsman.

Key can count himself unlucky, because he has scored many more runs than John Crawley during the warm-up matches.

England team: N Hussain (capt), ME Trescothick, MP Vaughan, MA Butcher, JP Crawley, AJ Stewart (wkt), C White, SP Jones, AF Giles, AR Caddick, MJ Hoggard.