Muscle strain keeps Flintoff out of fourth Test, threatens IPL stint

London, Feb 22 (ANI): England all rounder Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of the fourth Test against West Indies after scans revealed a muscle strain in his right hip.

Flintoff will definitely miss the Barbados Test against the West Indies, which starts on Thursday. England's medical team bowed to the inevitable today after examining the results of yet another scan on the all-rounder's torso.

Looking further down the line this injury throws into some doubt over Flintoff's participation in the Indian Premier League.

However, he will remain with the squad for the time being and will continue to be assessed regularly by the medical staff.

"I'm very disappointed to be missing the Test, but I'll be taking the advice of the England medical team that is out here," Flintoff said.

England have flown in two players, fast bowler Amjad Khan and batting all rounder Ravi Bopara, from New Zealand - where they were touring with the England Lions squad - as cover for Flintoff.

Flintoff, who said he was "very disappointed", will be assessed regularly over the next week to see whether he has any chance of playing in the final Test in Trinidad, which begins on 6 March or in the one-day matches that follow, the Guardian reported. (ANI)