Flintoff will miss rest of the season

ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew Flintoff suffered yet another injury setback yesterday when, days before he was due to return from a year on the sidelines, he was ruled out of action for the rest of the season.

Flintoff has not played for 12 months following two knee operations and after withdrawing from a limited-overs game for Lancashire's second XI on Monday his county issued a statement yesterday saying that after consultation with the player, his surgeon and the county's medical team, he would not play this season.

"While Andrew has made significant progress, the combined opinion is that he is not quite ready for a return to cricket," Lancashire cricket director Mike Watkinson told the county's website (www.lccc.co.uk).

"He will continue his rehabilitation into the winter months and we will constantly monitor and review his progress so that he is better equipped for a return to action."

Flintoff, 32, who has retired from the Test arena which included the memorable highlight of an Ashes win in 2005, had been hoping to feature in Twenty20 action in India, Australia and New Zealand during the southern hemisphere summer, but his prospects look slim after the latest in a long line of injury problems.