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England may rest Flintoff tomorrow
April 11, 2006 11:38 IST
The England [Images] team management may rest skipper Andrew Flintoff [Images] for the sixth one-day international against India to be played in Jamshedpur on Wednesday, considering the busy cricket schedule awaiting their team.
Coach Duncan Fletcher said Flintoff, who would have been rested in the washed out match at Guwahati on Sunday, has won 99 England caps but with a busy 12 months ahead he may have to wait to complete his century.
"We want to rest Freddie whenever we can. We saw this as an opportunity the other day," Fletcher was quoted as saying by BBC Sports.
England are trailing 0-4 in the seven-match series and with the fifth ODI been washed out in Guwahati, the remaining two matches would be of only academic interest.
The final one-day international would be played in Indore on Saturday.
"We will manage it on a game-by-game basis. I spoke to him about it even before the one-dayers started," Fletcher said.
"It is both mental and physical fatigue. The mental side does play a part and you have to look at both sides. Once Fred has got a ball in his hand or bat in hand he gives 100 per cent."
The 28-year-old, who was the man-of-the-series in Tests, faces a hectic schedule with a full domestic season, the ICC [Images] Champions Trophy, an Ashes tour and the 2007 World Cup ahead of him.
"That is why I pull guys out of county cricket in May. I am looking at September whereas other people are looking at next week," Fletcher said.