Fletcher plays down Flintoff worries

12 April 2012

England coach Duncan Fletcher insisted Andrew Flintoff's mysterious absence from the attack in the second Ashes Test was precautionary after he suffered some discomfort in his troublesome left ankle.

The England captain bowled only four overs on the fourth day at the Adelaide Oval despite his side battling nearly all day to finally dismiss Australia for 513 to gain a 38-run first-innings lead. It prompted speculation he may be suffering a recurrence of the ankle problems which forced him into a second operation mid-summer and sidelined him for the second half of the season.

"He just felt a slight discomfort there and he just wanted to make sure everything was all right," said Fletcher. "Andrew has played back-to-back Tests and he's done quite a bit of bowling and he's played quite a bit of cricket. There are no worries at the moment but we're going to have to wait and see over the next couple of days."

England have been particularly careful to monitor Flintoff's workload ever since he returned to action during the Champions Trophy in India last month, and are mindful their captain has a history of breaking down when he does too much bowling.

But Fletcher added: "From the advice we've been given we're not even going to send him for a scan at this stage - they feel it's just having over-bowled in back-to-back Tests.

"He's had this problem in the past but the medical staff are pretty confident at the moment."

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