Desperate England send for Flintoff

Unfit on Sunday, but fit enough today © Getty Images

Faced with mounting pressure to perform after two dismal performances, England have recalled Andrew Flintoff for today's day-nighter against West Indies at Headingley.

As recently as the weekend the England board said that Flintoff needed a fortnight's rest after suffering an ankle injury, stressing that the priority was to get him fit for the forthcoming Test series against West Indies.

But two abysmal batting displays led to a rethink and Flintoff's inclusion in the squad for Headingley, albeit as a specialist batsman.

On Sunday, Michael Vaughan told reporters:: "Flintoff's a key player, a world-class player. But we can't use it as an excuse for losing games. We can win games without Andrew Flintoff and we will win games without Andrew Flintoff." It appears that England's selectors don't have quite so much faith.