Freddie not ready

England Cricket / Editor / 30 May 2007 / Leave a Comment

Andrew Flintoff's chances of playing at Old Trafford in the third Test against the West Indies look slim after he failed a fitness test on his troublesome ankle.

The 29-year-old has suffered with ankle problems over the past few years but it was hoped that last year's surgery would keep the injury under control and enable him to return to the form that made him the world's number one-ranked all-rounder just a couple of years ago.

But the injury jinx has struck once more and the burly all-rounder missed the first two Tests of the summer in the hope of returning on his home ground later in the series.

Flintoff was expected to play for Lancashire against Sussex in a four-day game to test his ankle before returning to the international fold on June 7 against the men from the Caribbean.

However the Preston-born star has been ruled out of that match, which begins on Wednesday, and his participation in the rest of the Test series, and maybe the rest of the summer's activities, may now be thrown into doubt.

In a developing market, Lancashire and Sussex are similarly priced to emerge victorious on the south coast while the draw is a strong favourite with the weather yet to settle.

With or without that talisman, England are the overwhelming 1.57 favourites to win the third Test in Manchester with the tourists on offer at 16.5 and the draw available at 3.25.

The Windies are not fancied to bounce back in the series and trade at 70 to win the series with Michael Vaughan's men on offer at 1.06 with a drawn series available at 22.

The visitors will be without their skipper Ramnaresh Sarwan for the remaining two Tests, and look devoid of talent and enthusiasm, and England trade at 2.23 to win the next two matches and complete a 3-0 series victory.