England insist Andrew Flintoff's recovery from ankle surgery remains on track even though he has pulled out of the Lions tour of India.

The all-rounder, 30, was due to step up his rehabilitation with England's second-tier players in late January, but will now work on his fitness with Lancashire. The county have a training camp in India in late February before competing in a tournament in Dubai in March.

Flintoff underwent a fourth operation on his left ankle in October, which ruled him out of the winter tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

David Graveney, the chairman of the selectors, had raised the possibility of Flintoff joining the development squad purely as a batsman when they take part in the first-class Duleep Trophy in India.

But that plan was shelved on Tuesday, although England insist it is not a cause for concern.

"It was never definitely decided that Andrew was going to join up with the Lions squad, it was only ever a possibility," an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said. "The medical team have decided that it would be in his best interests to continue his progress, which is going very well, with Lancashire."

The 14-man Lions squad departs for India on January 23, with spinner Monty Panesar in the squad before he travels to New Zealand for the three-Test series with the senior team.

James Foster, the Essex wicket-keeper, Gloucestershire fast bowler Steve Kirby and Charlie Shreck, the Nottinghamshire seamer, were called up on Tuesday because of injuries to Worcestershire pair Steven Davies and Kabir Ali. Davies has a knee problem, while fast bowler Kabir Ali is struggling with an ankle knock.

Shreck, currently playing state and club cricket in New Zealand, was shocked at his call-up, saying: "It was a surprise to get the call, to say the least. I hadn't even been looking at the news to see when the Lions were touring; I was just concentrating on my cricket with Wellington."

Shreck, the 6ft 7in seam bowler who only began his county career at the age of 24 in 2002, has since taken 195 first-class wickets in 49 matches.

"Playing for England has always been a dream, but not something I've taken too seriously," he added. "I've always aimed to perform for Notts first and foremost, but I'm now looking forward to the challenge of playing in India."

Revised England Lions squad to tour India:

M Yardy (Sussex, capt), M Carberry (Hants), J Denly (Kent), J Foster (Essex), J Hildreth (Somerset), E Joyce (Middx), S Kirby (Gloucs), G Onions (Durham), M Panesar (Northants), L Plunkett (Durham), A Rashid (Yorks), A Richardson (Middx), C Shreck (Notts), J Trott (Warks).

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