Flintoff to Miss Sri Lanka One-day Internationals

Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of next month's one-day series against Sri Lanka after suffering experience further discomfort in his left ankle. He will be replaced by Chris Tremlett. However Flintoff, who will return to the UK today to have his ankle assessed by a specialist, has not yet been ruled out of the Test series in Sri Lanka, which begins in November.

Flintoff struggled during the NatWest series against India and England's five matches in the ICC World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa, often wincing in pain when he was bowling.

"This in an on-going process. We needed to test out how the ankle was and this tournament was ideal because he could only bowl four overs a match," said the England coach Peter Moores. "Now he will go back to England for strengthening work and we will see where we go from there."

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board insisted that Flintoff had sustained no further damage to his ankle during the recent World Twenty20 tournament. "Andrew has experienced some discomfort as the World Twenty20 tournament has progressed, but has been determined to provide a contribution to the team's performance," it said. "At no time was further damage to the ankle sustained, but unfortunately it was clear that his ability to increase the intensity of his rehab and participation could not be progressed.

"Accordingly, after ongoing review and discussion with specialists, it is felt that the appropriate course of action is to allow time for the ankle joint to settle and recover before the process of further strengthening and assessment of the ankle is intensified. Therefore, Andrew will return to the UK to receive further specialist investigation and rehabilitation."