Edgbaston, July 29: Andrew Flintoff, who has already performed like a man hardly of this earth in the Ashes series, is using space technology to ensure his continued participation. The man who is determined to defy the strains of his body to play the next three matches has been sleeping with a machine designed by Nasa.
Whether it was the device or merely the natural healing process, Flintoff looked as fluent in movement as he has done for 10 days yesterday when the England team gathered here in Birmingham ahead of the third npower Test starting tomorrow. But just as it was possible to be optimistic at last about Flintoff – at least for this match – there were suddenly doubts raised about the middle-order batsman, Ian Bell.
During an indoor football match between some of the players on Monday evening, Bell turned over on an ankle. He received treatment and missed some elements of England’s training yesterday. Although he batted without any distress, he was seen on the outfield later in full batting gear with England’s naturally concerned medical team who will take no risks.
–Agencies