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 London, Sept 7: Star all-rounder Andrew
Flintoff is likely to be fit for the seventh and deciding
one-day cricket match against India which may boost the hosts
chances of winning at the Lord's tomorrow, said England coach
Peter Moores. The 29-year-old Flintoff missed the last two games
that England lost due to an injured left-ankle and his absence
blunted the edge of England's bowling attack as India plundered
over 300 runs at Headingley and Oval and bounced back in style
to level the series 3-3. Flintoff took a full part in England's
training session today and Moores is hopeful he will pass a late
fitness on the morning of the match.
Moores also believes Flintoff's comeback will
serve as a huge morale booster for England as they look to stop
India in their strides. "He's had a bat and a bowl and come
through OK, and the physio seems quite confident that as he's
come through so well he's got a pretty good chance of playing,"
Moores told reporters on the match eve. "We've got to wait to
make sure there's no reaction so it's a case of wait and see on
that, but we're hopeful." The England coach reckons Flintoff's
return could hold the team get back to the winning ways.
"It would be nice to win a one-day series. I
think we'd get a great momentum from it," he said. "But the main
thing for me is how the players have committed to the series and
how much they've enjoyed it. They've got stuck in and had a go
against a good Indian team," Moores said. "It would be nice if
we could snatch the series win at Lord's." Moores also believed
that Flintoff's future could be secure if the coaching and
medical staff handled his injuries properly. "We know he's got
some instability in his ankle and it needs to be managed.
"No-one knows how that's going to develop over the next few
weeks and years but we continue to work with him to give him the
best chance of playing as much competitive cricket as possible."
(Agencies)
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