ANDREW FLINTOFF will only play in next week’s third Ashes Test at Edgbaston if England are 100 per cent confident of him getting through the full five days at full capacity.

Flintoff, 31, overcame the effects of his right knee injury to claim the man-of-the-match award in the 115-run Lord’s victory over Australia last week.

Three injections in the troublesome joint helped him retain his hostility with the ball throughout the contest and his rampaging spell on the fifth morning sealed the result. He has been sore in the aftermath, however, and is resting up in a bid to make next Thursday’s match. England are already without top batsmen Kevin Pietersen, who has had surgery on his Achilles tendon.

Australia’s leading fast bowler Brett Lee has been left out of the squad for the tour match against Northamptonshire today. Lee missed the first two Tests with a rib injury and Australia’s most experienced seamer now looks unlikely to play in next weeks third Test.