England eye extra practice games

We've got to arrange enough cricket for them so they are running when they get there for the first Test David Graveney

England could set up extra matches this winter to help nurse Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles back from injury ahead of the winter Test series in Australia.

Star all-rounder Flintoff (ankle) and left-arm spinner Giles (hip) will need match-practice after having surgery.

"We know (former Hampshire batsman) Paul Terry has a set-up in Perth and we could set up games in India," chairman of selectors David Graveney explained.

"So there are a couple of places we could go to if we felt it would help."

Regular captain Michael Vaughan has already been ruled out of the five-Test series, while paceman Simon Jones, Flintoff and Giles are doubts.

The tour begins against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on 10 November, with the first Test starting in Brisbane on 23 November.

England are keen to avoid a repeat of their last visit to Australia four years ago when Flintoff and Darren Gough were recovering from injuries and named in the original squad but failed to play any part in the series.

"The last trip to Australia was shambolic," Graveney added. "Freddie arrived at the Academy in Adelaide and he could hardly walk, let alone bowl.

"Regrettably we may be heading for the same situation to a degree. We might have a number of guys going there that are physically fit, but not match fit.

"What we have to do with Freddie and Ashley, because he's making positive noises as well, we've got to arrange enough cricket for them so they are running when they actually get there for the first Test."

Graveney initially mentioned asking Cricket Australia to set up matches of for England stars to play domestic cricket Down Under.

But he later admitted: "I was being a little mischievous when I said that, but there are a couple of areas we may look at."

Cricket Australia said any Flintoff stint in club cricket would be a matter for the England and Wales Cricket Board and the relevant state association to agree on.

And a spokesman added: "There are no statutes that we are aware of that would prevent it from being possible."

Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White turned out for South Australian club Adelaide in the weeks leading up to the 2002/3 Ashes series.