Flintoff feels 'discomfort' in ankle

Andrew Flintoff said he felt his ankle following the Championship match against Hampshire, where he scored 61 and bowled nine overs. © Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff has given England another cause for concern ahead of the first Test after reporting discomfort in his left ankle following Lancashire's Championship match against Hampshire at The Rose Bowl.

He didn't bowl in England's net session at Lord's on Tuesday - which is a worrying sign - but an ECB spokesman is hopeful he will bowl on Wednesday. "We will then assess his chances of playing."

He underwent a scan on Sunday after the Championship match, and the ECB said the results would be released on Monday. So far, there is no news.

However, on Monday he was positive about his chances of playing: "I'm still hopeful for Thursday. Sometimes when it is the ankle the alarm bells start ringing a bit but I'm still very hopeful.

"When I was operated on it was on the back and the inside of the ankle but this pain is more on the outside. This discomfort is something I felt during the winter so it is not something completely new."

Flintoff's left ankle has been a constant source of problems and last summer he needed surgery following an aborted comeback for Lancashire. He was ruled out of the series against Pakistan before slowly returning to full bowling duties for the Ashes series. However, his workload continues to be carefully monitored by the England management.

During his three appearances for Lancashire this summer he has bowled a total of 23 overs (14 in one-day cricket and nine at the Rose Bowl last week) and generated decent pace.

England's build-up to the first Test has been hit by a list of injuries with Michael Vaughan ruled out with a broken finger and Kevin Pietersen picking up a calf strain playing for Hampshire, although he is expected to be fit for Lord's on Thursday.