Flintoff likely to be rested

Andrew Flintoff may be rested for the sixth game of the one-day series at Jamshedpur with a view of resting him for a busy season ahead. Flintoff, who was the Man of the Series in the Tests, was set to sit out of the Guwahati clash, which was eventually abandoned, and he might get another break considering the circumstances.

England, who have already lost the seven-match series, have a busy 12-month schedule ahead - including a full domestic season, ICC Champions Trophy, Ashes tour and World Cup - and Duncan Fletcher, their coach, hinted that Flintoff would be rested for the dead-rubber clash.

"We want to give Freddie a rest whenever we can," he said at his pre-match press conference. "We saw this as an opportunity the other day and we will be monitoring it as this tour and the summer progresses. We will manage it on a game-by-game basis.

"I spoke to him about it even before the one-dayers started. It is both mental and physical fatigue: the mental side does play a part and you have to look at both sides. Once Fred has got a ball in his hand or bat in hand he gives 100%."