England 'won't risk Flintoff'
England coach Peter Moores has said "no risk" will be taken on Andrew Flintoff's fitness ahead of the third one-day international against India
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Sunday, 26, Aug 2007 10:19
England coach Peter Moores has said Andrew Flintoff's fitness will not be put at risk for the third one-day international against India on Monday.
The coach was commenting ahead of the team selection for the fixture at Edgbaston in the series, which India levelled up at 1-1 on Friday.
Flintoff injured his right knee after colliding with advertisement boards while fielding in the second one-day international, in which he achieved impressive bowling figures of 5 for 56 in just ten overs.
Moores told the BBC: "We just have to make sure there's no risk in him playing but if we think it's more sensible to miss a game then that's what we'll do.
"He's very keen to play but we have to balance it over a long series," he added.
The Lancashire all-rounder did not bowl in a practice session on Sunday and has received pain-killing injections to cope with the injury.
After being absent with a long-term injury trouble to his left ankle, the all-rounder has been a much-missed asset to England's bowling attack.
In the second of a seven match series, India hit a high scoring 329 for 7 and the hosts were left to rue a decision to leave out spinner Monty Panesar.
The visitors levelled the Natwest series by nine runs after three wickets from spinner Piyush Chawla, despite a fight-back score of 64 from England's Ian Bell.