KP blow for England: Pietersen joins crock Flintoff on

[vvvslaxman]

Andrew Flintoff likely to miss World Twenty20 Flintoff miss world T20 source England's Andrew Flintoff likely to miss World Twenty20 tournament Andrew Flintoff is unlikely to be fit for next month's World Twenty20 due to the slow response of his right knee to an operation performed last month. By Derek Pringle, Cricket Correspondent Last Updated: 9:29PM BST 15 May 2009 Down on his luck: Andrew Flintoff injured his knee playing in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings Photo: GETTY IMAGES Flintoff, now 31, had keyhole surgery on April 28 after damaging his knee playing for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. At the time, the England and Wales Cricket Board issued a bullish statement saying they expected him to return for the World Twenty20, which begins on June 5. Yet Flintoff, in an interview with Sky Sports due to be shown on Saturday, has cast doubt on that prognosis. "I'm making progress, and I've been on the bike for 45 minutes," reveals Flintoff in his interview with Ian Ward. "But I'm still a while away from running – maybe a week and a half or so. One of the things we've got to be careful about is swelling, which is why we're constantly icing and monitoring it after one session before I can do the next one." England's opening game in the World Twenty20 is against Holland at Lord's in 19 days' time, but Flintoff's presence there always looked optimistic despite his selection in the 15-man squad. Bowling fast places forces and strains on the body almost unique in sport and Flintoff's brawny physique multiplies them even further. If you told Steve Backley he would have to throw the javelin 120 times a day – the equivalent of bowling 20 overs in a Test, which is what England fans really want Flintoff fit for – with the possibility of doing the same for another two days in a row, he would have probably become a rower. "I saw the specialist on Tuesday and he was obviously pretty cautious about it," Flintoff says. "It's got to be right. I've been named in the Twenty20 squad but the rehab is going to have to go extremely well and I'm probably going to have to be a bit lucky as well." He was spotted during the first Test at Lord's last week, replete with crutches and a forlorn look on his face. Since the 2005 Ashes, and for selective periods before that, his working life has been one of occasional windows of fitness against a backdrop of injury and rehab. Hauling himself back once more is an ordeal in itself and one that, given the summer's Ashes do not start until July, should not be hurried. "When you get injured and you're doing the rehab it can be dull, but my motivation is playing the Ashes," Flintoff says. "Having experienced it before, I desperately want to play in it again. "To be involved once more is motivating enough and it's the one thing if I'm rowing, or running or doing these physical exercises that are mind-numbing, that I focus on and think about." His return, if and when it happens, needs to be carefully managed and not just from his own point of view. Speaking on Sky on Friday, after rain washed out play in the second Test against the West Indies at Durham, Nasser Hussain warned against Flintoff upsetting the dynamic of the England dressing room. "He's a big personality and sometimes that can squash those around him," Hussain said. "The last thing England need during the Ashes is for his return to dull those cheeky chappies, Graeme Swann and Ravi Bopara, just as they're hitting their stride."

[punjabi_khota]

Only Akhtar beats him the amount of fitness issues this guy has. He is probably too heavy for his own good.

[vvvslaxman]

De villiers is disappointed at the development :--D

[Anakin]

What a loss for the opposition

[Pak_Forever]

If there's anyone who can compete with Akthar on injuries than it's this guy Mr. Flint-off. Now he just has to come up with a skin disease to break even with Akthar.

[diegovegaz]

ohh, who'll fire up yuvi when we play england??

[ViruRulez]

ohh' date=' who'll fire up yuvi when we play england??[/quote'] :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: BTW I would like to hear what Atherton would have to say now :giggle:

[ritwik]

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: BTW I would like to hear what Atherton would have to say now :giggle:

"The IPL has cost England the T20 world cup".

[auntu]

"The IPL has cost England the T20 world cup".

True

[Chandan]

True

True? Are you kidding? A bowler who could last for just 10 overs in 10 days, would have won England the T20 WC? How? You may say that IPL saved England from choosing a bowler about to crash in T20 WC!

[Feed]

KP blow for England: Pietersen joins crock Flintoff on the injury list Kevin Pietersen faces a race against time to be fit for the Ashes after he suffered an Achilles injury. England already have doubts over the fitness of Andrew Flintoff.More... KP blow for England: Pietersen joins Flintoff on injury list By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 4:50 PM on 20th May 2009 Kevin Pietersen faces a race against time to be fit for the Ashes series against Australia after suffering an Achilles injury. England's best batsman suffered the injury during the second Test victory at Chester-le-Street and has been ruled out of England's three-match NatWest one-day international series against the West Indies, starting at at Headingley on Thursday. Pietersen has just two weeks to recover before the start of England's ICC World Twenty20 campaign, which has already been undermined with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff struggling to recover from a recent knee operation in time for the start of the tournament. Pietersen will undertake a period of rest and treatment on the right Achilles injury, but England are hopeful he will recover to play a full part in their World Twenty20 campaign and the Ashes series. Nick Peirce, the England and Wales Cricket Board's chief medical officer, explained: "The injury would not necessarily prevent him from playing. "But by giving him a precautionary period of time out to receive some concentrated treatment and rest we are enabling the niggle to settle down in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes. This is not an injury that would preclude him from participating in either event." Pietersen, who has not missed a one-day international for England since suffering a rib injury in Australia two years ago, confirmed: "The medical advice is to rest the Achilles. "Although I'm frustrated to be leaving a happy and successful dressing room, I'm absolutely confident this will help me overcome what has up until now been a minor ongoing injury. "I hate missing out on playing for England but understand that in this instance it's necessary in order to overcome the injury. "Even though I won't be lining up for England during this series I'll be watching and supporting the team closely as they set about repeating the recent one-day series win in the Caribbean. "I'm looking forward to being back in the England line-up for the World Twenty20 and the rest of an exciting summer of cricket." England have decided not to call up a replacement into their squad for the series with uncapped Middlesex batsman Eoin Morgan and Ian Bell battling it out to replace Pietersen in tomorrow's opener.

[Guest gaurav_indian]

haha now blame the IPL.

[King]

haha now blame the IPL.

Atherton will lead the bandwagon. Well would have if KP had been injured during the IPL. Now that he has played two tests and is now injured what's Atherton going to blame it on???