Flintoff out of first Ashes Test

England's ambitions of getting their Ashes campaign off to a winning start were dealt a serious blow yesterday evening when Andrew Flintoff failed to prove to the selectors that he was fit enough to play in the first Test against Australia, which started today.

The 24-year-old Lanca-shire all-rounder had been fighting against the clock ever since the decision for him to have an operation on a double hernia was delayed at the end of the English season. This was so he could take part in the third Test against India at Headingley, where he bagged a pair.

England's lack of foresight may cost them dearly in Brisbane on the eve of the toughest challenge yet to face Nasser Hussain as England captain.

Explaining the selectors' decision, the England coach, Duncan Fletcher, said: "We had a tough choice to make in the all-rounder position between Andrew Flintoff and Craig White, but we just felt the first Test came around a couple of days too early for Andrew following his comeback from a hernia operation. He is still feeling sore after the three-day game against Queensland and we had concerns how his body would react to the demands of a five-day game."

For England this was the second piece of demoralising news this week. On Monday, Darren Gough was packed off to the National Academy in Adelaide because of a recurrence of the knee injury that has prevented him playing competitively since February.

It should have come of no surprise to the England side that Flintoff had not recovered in time because he left Heathrow with his rehabilitation already behind schedule. Only a few days into the tour he was also sent to the National Academy in a last-ditch effort to get him right for today's match.

Encouraging reports of his progress were made and he rejoined the squad in Brisbane. Once there he convinced the selectors that he was fit enough to play in England's last warm-up game against Queensland. But in the match Flintoff looked a shadow of the bowler we saw during the summer.

For England this was a major blow because Hussain and Fletcher are great admirers of their No 1 all-rounder. His inclusion helps the balance of the side because he gives depth to both the batting and the bowling.

However, one man's loss is another's gain and Craig White was given the opportunity to play his first Test match in the country where he was raised. Even though the Yorkshire all-rounder is included in England's one-day squad for later this year, he must have been short of match practice having played only a three-day game and a couple of club games since the end of the season.