Strauss optimistic over Freddie fitness

England captain Andrew Strauss is optimistic that Andrew Flintoff will be ready for action when the fourth npower Ashes Test gets under way at Headingley on Friday.

Lancashire's Flintoff bowled for 35 minutes in the nets on Thursday to test out his heavily strapped right knee and Strauss has insisted he is prepared to make the toughest of decisions if he is not convinced Flintoff, 31, can get through a five-day match.

However he told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm still pretty confident, but I need to see how he reacts to what he did before tying our colours to the mast."

England have been unable to select their team on the eve of the match, even within the ranks, and Strauss admits that is not the ideal preparation for a big match.

"You'd like to be clearer in your own mind by now about which direction you're going to go, but that's the circumstances we're in," he said.

"I think the players are fairly sympathetic to the situation and they know that Fred, if it's at all possible he can play a full part, will do. We just need to make an assessment on how close to full fitness he is really.

"I think if he's fit to play a full part, he plays. It's as simple as that.

"But that's the assessment you've got to make - how full a part is he going to play.

"It seems to trouble him more turning and twisting. So batting and fielding is a little bit of an issue.

"You can kind of live with that as long as he's able to bowl his overs and he's not doing further damage to himself."