CRICKET: RACE AGAINST THE CROCK FOR FLINTOFF.

ANDREW FLINTOFF'S almost certain absence from England's Test series decider against India deepened the gloom after the hosts had limped to defeat at Headingley yesterday.

Nasser Hussain's manful century failed to get anywhere near saving the third Test as India levelled the series at 1- 1 with victory by an innings and 46 runs.

Flintoff will see a specialist tomorrow with a view to having an operation on Friday to deal with his troublesome hernia.

England risked the big Lancastrian in an attempt to wrap up the series but they got a poor return on the gamble - one wicket from 27 overs and no runs - and it looks likely he'll miss the decider at The Oval next month.

An England spokesman confirmed Flintoff's imminent appointment with a specialist, adding that the expected recovery time from an operation would be four to six weeks.

Skipper Hussain, right, said: "My gut feeling - especially with regard to the way the coach thinks about playing people when they're unfit - is that Andrew will go off and have an operation pretty soon."

That would leave England with an obvious problem over Flintoff's replacement - an all-rounder or possibly a specialist batsman.

Hussain said: "He had a poor game here and needs to get himself right for the Ashes in Australia in November.

"In the short term there is a long injury list in the all-round department. But the most important thing is to get Andrew right for the future rather than just looking after the present."