The ECB has said that Andrew Flintoff should be fit enough before the fifth and the final test match at Oval, to make a comeback in the decider. The swelling in the knee seems to have subsided considerably and the knee specialist, Andy Williams, has provided a positive feedback for the same, which translates into a better chance of Flintoff being fit for the game.
In a statement, the ECB said, “The advice received was that the swelling in his knee has significantly eased following the decision by the England management team to rest him from the last Test Match and that subject to further rest and intensive treatment, he will be available for selection for the 5th npower Ashes Test at The Brit Oval.”
Earlier, Flintoff was said to be fit for the fourth test match as well, but wasn’t considered for the game after the team management decided not to risk him for the game. England went onto lose the game by an innings and eighty runs.
The coach of the team, Andy Flower said that while Flintoff had wanted to play the fourth game, he had also said that he wasn’t fully fit and that was a risk that the team management did not want to take.