Flintoff ruled out of Leeds Test

Watching brief: Andrew Flintoff looks on after being ruled out of the Test © Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the second Test at Headingley starting on Friday after failing to convince the selectors that he was fit enough to bowl.

"It was deemed that Andrew's ankle did not demonstrate sufficient improvement after his first bowling session today (Wednesday)," the ECB said in a statement. "In order to allow the ankle to rehabilitate effectively and continue to improve it was felt the best decision was to rule him out now without a further assessment tomorrow."

Flintoff will rejoin his county "where he will continue to undergo rehabilitation and revue. He will only begin to bowl at an appropriate stage and any participation in Lancashire's forthcoming county matches will be made in due course."

Flintoff missed the opening Test after suffering discomfort in the same ankle that has already been operated on twice in three years.

With Matthew Hoggard also ruled out through injury and with England's lack of firepower at Lord's so evident, it seems likely that Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson will be recalled for the match with a batsman - probably Andrew Strauss - missing out to make way for Michael Vaughan.

Squad Michael Vaughan (capt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Stephen Harmison, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Prior (wk), Monty Panesar, Liam Plunkett, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss.