Flintoff to miss Tests

Published: Saturday | April 25, 2009



Flintoff

LONDON, England (CMC):

England's talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is set to miss the two-Test series against West Indies next month, after being forced out of the Indian Premier League with a knee injury that will require surgery next week.

The 31-year-old will undergo surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee and will be out of action for up to five weeks as he recovers.

Flintoff, one of the highest paid signings in the billion-dollar IPL Twenty20 tournament, felt the discomfort while playing for the Chennai Super Kings and the problem was referred immediately to the England and Wales Cricket Board medical team.

The tear was then discovered following scans at a Durban hospital and a decision was made by England's medical team that Flintoff should return home.

"Andrew has been extremely unlucky with injuries, but if there is one saving grace it is that the injury has occurred now rather than on the eve of either the ICC World Twenty20 or the npower Ashes," said Hugh Morris, England Cricket's managing director.

"Having the surgery now means that Flintoff should be available for both those events although he is certain to miss the npower Test series against the West Indies."