Cricket: No resting place on Tour for recovering Fintoff.

Byline: BY MYLES HODGSON

ANDREW FLINTOFF will not start "picking and choosing" his matches to protect himself from injury as he embarks on the most hectic schedule of his career.

Such is the 31-year-old all-rounder's importance to England, it would be tempting for the backroom staff to wrap him in cotton wool to protect him from any harm until the first Ashes Test starts in Cardiff on July 8.

He is due to return from the latest of his injuries, a hip strain, this Friday in England's third one-day international against West Indies at the Kensington Oval having been sidelined for a month since the third Test in Antigua.

Another similar injury later this summer would be a major setback to England's hopes of emulating their achievement in 2005 by reclaiming the Ashes, particularly against an Australian team who have just recorded a significant series win in South Africa.

But Flintoff is reluctant to rest despite a tough schedule which includes two weeks playing in the Indian Premier League in South Africa, a home Test and one-day series against West Indies and the Twenty20 World Cup before the Ashes.

"I'm just going to play when I'm asked to play," he said.

"These four weeks I've had now when I've been able to do my fitness work and have a bit of a rest will probably serve me well for what's coming up this year because it's a busy schedule. I will speak to the medical staff, but I'm just raring to get going now."

Since the 2005 Ashes series, when Flintoff was named man of the series, he has been restricted to 22 out of 45 Tests England have played and only 45 of 82 one-day internationals through various injuries.

Since 2005 he has had three operations on his left ankle, had a side strain and now the latest hip problem, which forced him home for intensive treatment for a week before he returned to the Caribbean for the start of the one-day series.

He is confident, though, his body can cope with the stresses and strains of this summer.

"My body is fine, but there is a concern that when I come back from not playing is when I'm at my most vulnerable," he conceded.

England will train at the Kensington Oval today when they will decide who will drop out to accommodate Flintoff 's return with either Harmison or off-spinner Gareth Batty likely to make way.

CAPTION(S):

Flintoff trains yesterday