January 2005

Problems began in his left ankle the previous summer, when he played in the Test series against West Indies as a specialist batsman.

Diagnosed with posterior impingement in his left ankle, where uneven bone growth in the heel caused severe pain on impact. When bowling, - about eight times Flintoff's own bodyweight goes through the ankle. After a course of cortisone injections and rest while on tour to South Africa, Flintoff returned early and the growth was surgically removed

July 2006

Flintoff had been wearing strapping on the same ankle for several weeks, after feeling pain during the Test series against Sri Lanka.

A scan showed three fragments of bone floating in the ankle. Flintoff tried a series of strengthening exercises with a view to curing the problem without resorting to surgery. A month later, he had an operation to remove the fragments and scar tissue around the tendon

June 2007

Reported discomfort in ankle again while bowling in the nets before first Test against West Indies at Lord’s.

After an MRI scan, which failed to give a definitive diagnosis, the decision was made to perform an arthroscopy. This form of keyhole surgery involves making two or three tiny holes, a couple of millimetres in diameter, under general anaesthetic, and checking for localised inflammation, scar tissue and cartilage problems, which can usually be resolved on the spot. Success rate for this condition is 85 per cent. Rehabilitation time will be around six weeks before he returns to full fitness Flintoff’s problem left ankle after second operation

Doctor’s notes

1999: Returned early from tour to South Africa with a broken foot suffered while bowling

2000: Had operation to numb the nerves in his back after a nagging injury to it

2002: Underwent a hernia operation and then later that year returned early from the Ashes tour to recover from a persistent groin injury.

2003: A shoulder injury ruled him out of the series with Zimbabwe and later in the year the groin injury flared up again

2005: Underwent ankle surgery in January, then suffered a side strain

2006: Further ankle surgery

2007: ECB confirms he will have surgery on the ankle a third time