England stars could skip Champions Trophy

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, hinted that top players like Andrew Flintoff could be rested for the Champions Trophy in India in October and November this year, in preparation for the Ashes. Fletcher expressed concern that the players would not have enough time to rest and recuperate before the first Test at Brisbane on November 23, which starts just three weeks after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy, on November 5.

"We will look to see who will need a rest before going to Australia and we will make plans accordingly," Fletcher told AFP. "We will have to look at the Champions Trophy and see what our attitude is towards it."

Flintoff was rested for the sixth ODI against India at Jamshedpur, with the hosts already having clinched the series 4-0. England face a packed home season against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, which includes a maximum of seven Tests and ten ODIs. This will be followed by the Champions Trophy, the tour of Australia from November to February and the World Cup in the West Indies in March and April. The home season commences with the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on May 11 at Lord's, less than a month after the seventh and final ODI at Indore on April 15.

Fletcher added, "I'm looking at all the players all the time. That's why I'm pulling guys out because I'm looking at September when people are just looking at the next week. You've just got to look quite a long way away down the line."

England, who finished runners-up in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, have been grouped with world champions Australia, hosts India and a qualifier from the group stages.