Hollioake in for Flintoff

Hollioake last played for England in 1999

Adam Hollioake is to become the 31st player to become involved in England's tour of Australia after Andrew Flintoff finally lost his battle to regain fitness.

Flintoff is returning home in an attempt to cure the problem which has prevented him regaining full fitness since undergoing a double hernia operation in August.

Hollioake played the last of his 35 one-day internationals three years ago, when defeat to India at Edgbaston saw England knocked out of the 1999 World Cup at the first stage.

But the Surrey captain impressed for his county last summer after taking several months off following the tragic death of younger brother Ben in a car accident.

It's important he goes back and sorts the problem out

Fletcher on Flintoff

He has been staying with his family in Perth and is expected to join the rest of the squad in Melbourne ahead of Sunday's second one-day international against Australia.

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The luckless tourists, who have failed to register a win in 11 matches so far, begin the VB Series against Ricky Ponting's side on Friday.

Flintoff is the fifth player to return home since the tour began on October 18, following Simon Jones, Darren Gough, Chris Silverwood and Ashley Giles.

And he now faces a battle to prove his fitness before England have to submit their final 15-man squad for the World Cup to the International Cricket Council on December 31.

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"Andrew's making no progress at the moment," confirmed coach Duncan Fletcher.

"He's been checked over in Australia and everyone over here can't really find a problem, but at this stage he's not fit to play in one-day internationals or Test matches.

Flintoff has played in only two first-class matches on tour, both times reporting stiffness afterwards.

Flintoff hopes to be fit for the World Cup

But he is determined to regain his fitness and take his place for the World Cup, as soon as medical staff can provide a proper diagnosis of his problems.

"I start off okay but when I get into the third or fourth over I start getting a bit of pain around my groin area," he explained.

"If I can go home, see the medical officer and do whatever he says I'm hoping I can be 100% for the World Cup."

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Teams for the opening day-night match:

England (from): N Hussain (capt), NV Knight, ME Trescothick, RC Irani, OA Shah, ID Blackwell, C White, AJ Stewart (wkt), GJ Batty, AR Caddick, RJ Kirtley, PD Collingwood, SJ Harmison, JM Anderson.

Australia (from): RT Ponting (capt), ML Hayden, AC Gilchrist (wkt), DR Martyn, MG Bevan, DS Lehmann, SR Watson, SK Warne, B Lee, JN Gillespie, GD McGrath, AJ Bichel.