England recall Flintoff

NatWest Series, Headingley:
England v West Indies

BBC COVERAGE England v West Indies Starts 1430 BST, Thursday Listen live on BBC Radio 4 LW, Five Live Spots Extra and this website BBC Test Match Special

Andrew Flintoff will play for England in Thursday's crucial day-nighter against West Indies at Headingley.

He is one of two changes to the team that lost to New Zealand by seven wickets at Durham.

Flintoff will play as a specialist batsman only along with Robert Key, with Ian Blackwell and Ashley Giles being dropped.

England are desperate to win the match after slumping to two defeats, leaving them only a slim chance of qualifying.

The West Indies were unchanged from the side which beat England by seven wickets, electing to leave out fast bowler Tino Best.

Flintoff was originally ruled out of the NatWest Series with an ankle injury.

An England spokesman told BBC Sport: "The decision was made late yesterday afternoon after discussions with ECB medical staff.

"Flintoff is a genuine all-rounder who would be in the team by right with either his batting or bowling.

"He is a fierce hitter of the ball and it is a boost for England that he can play."

England's first match was washed out but they have suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of West Indies and New Zealand since then.

They are nine points behind New Zealand and six adrift of West Indies with a maximum of 18 still up for grabs.

We are still in the early stages of the tournament and we're looking at this match as a must-win situation Brian Lara

England coach Duncan Fletcher does not want the selectors to make wholesale changes to the squad after a poor start to the series.

Fletcher is set for a discussion with the chairman of selectors David Graveney in the next couple of days.

He said: "I'd like to see the side stay the same. We've been through this with the Test side and it's because they've stayed together and know their roles they are now functioning well."

West Indies captain Brian Lara said they would not take England lightly.

I fail to see why the selectors bothered to pick Robert Key! From Joel Beattie Have your say on TMS

He also warned the West Indies against overconfidence after their bright start.

He said: "We are still in the early stages of the tournament and we're looking at this match as a must-win situation and move on from there.

"England's worry is not our worry. Our worry is to make sure we qualify for the final early so that we know we are there."

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England: MP Vaughan (Yorkshire, capt), ME Trescothick (Somerset), GO Jones (Kent, wkt), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), PD Collingwood (Durham), A Flintoff (Lancashire), A McGrath (Yorkshire), RWT Key (Kent), D Gough (Essex), SJ Harmison (Durham), JM Anderson (Lancashire).

West Indies: BC Lara (capt), CH Gayle, S Chanderpaul, DR Smith, RR Sarwan, RL Powell, DJJ Bravo, RD Jacobs (wkt), R Rampaul, IDR Bradshaw, JJC Lawson.

Umpires: DJ Harper (Aus) & MR Benson