Late Flintoff test disrupts England

England were on Thursday facing the prospect of an 11th-hour change of plan for the first Test against West Indies, depending on the fitness of Andrew Flintoff.

New national coach Peter Moores confirmed the final decision on the key all-rounder's sore ankle would have to be made at Lord's on Thursday morning, after Flintoff was prevented by bad weather from testing his injury until England's last practice session.

"He's bowled two short spells, and his ankle is still sore - so we're going to have to wait and see," said Moores.

Flintoff's Lancashire team-mate Jimmy Anderson has been summoned from Old Trafford as bowling cover, while Owais Shah could come in for his second Test if England decide it is an extra batsman that is most needed.

It is an unhelpful complication for the hosts, who have obvious prospects of making life difficult for vulnerable tourists limited to just one rain-ruined preparation match in Taunton. Moores has refused to get too down on England's luck, though.

"You can't control injuries," he pointed out on behalf of a team captained by stand-in Andrew Strauss, in the absence of Michael Vaughan - who has a broken finger.

"You've got to be fair to the player and to the team - you've got to take both into consideration. The ankle seems to be getting better, but whether it's in a time-frame to be able to play we're not quite sure."

Moores has no intention of beginning his tenure, having replaced Duncan Fletcher last month, with any unnecessary compromising factors.

"What we don't want to do is carry injured men into a game of cricket if we can possibly help it," he said.

"We have some good bowlers who can play. We know he's had ankle problems before - and we wouldn't play him if we thought it was going to get worse."