Flintoff pulls up sore from net session

England's injury woes continued on Thursday when Andrew Flintoff reported groin soreness while attempting to prove his fitness ahead of the three-day match against Australia A starting on Friday.

The Lancashire all-rounder is recovering from a hernia operation and was rested from last week's first Test, which Australia won by 384 runs in Brisbane.

"He's going to have a further scan this afternoon and we will make an announcement about his availability for the (Australia A) game once we know the result of the scan," England spokesman Andrew Walpole said.

"He's still sore and he will have a scan to check for any soft tissue damage. He had a bone scan earlier in the week which was clear."

England's team for the Australia A game will be named later on Thursday, Walpole said. The second Test starts in Adelaide on November 21.

England captain Nasser Hussain will not play in the tour match against Australia A at Hobart's Bellerive Oval and is expected to fly to Perth during this weekend to attend the birth of his second child.

Somerset opening batsman Marcus Trescothick will captain England against Australia A.

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison, who is recovering from shin splints, trained strongly in the nets on Thursday.

Alex Tudor and Chris Silverwood have joined the squad in the past week to replace pacemen Darren Gough and Simon Jones, who have been ruled out of the five-match series because of knee injuries.

Also read: Lee, Bichel vie for role in second Test

Mail Cricket Editor