Andrew Flintoff won't play in the first or second Test against New Zealand after injuring his left side playing for Lancashire.

The all-rounder felt some discomfort after the game against Durham — in which he had match figures of seven for 42 but recorded two ducks — and has been withdrawn from the selectors' consideration on medical advice.

Flintoff went for a scan after the game last night and was ruled out of the first Test, which starts on Thursday at Lord's, and the second. He may be considered for the final Test of the New Zealand series and for the later battles against South Africa if he responds well to treatment. The strain is not connected to the surgery he received over the winter on his troublesome left ankle.

Flintoff said: "Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed to be unavailable for Test selection due to this injury as I'm really enjoying my cricket with Lancashire and feel my bowling has been improving with each match. I've put in a lot of hard work to get to this point after ankle surgery last year and I know I can overcome what isn't a significant injury."

It does, however, make the selectors job a bit easier. The panel met at Trent Bridge during the week to discuss their XI for Lord's, which will be announced by Geoff Miller, the national selector, at 9.30am on Sunday.

The main dilemmas are whether to play James Anderson or Matthew Hoggard as a third fast bowler behind Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom and whether to play Paul Collingwood, whose form for Durham has been dire this season, or to include an out-and-out batsman in Owais Shah or a batsman who can bowl a bit, such as Ravi Bopara or Luke Wright.

Both were underbowled in the first innings of the England Lions match against New Zealand that is being played at the Rose Bowl, but Wright made a hundred while Bopara is the leading middle-order run-scorer in county cricket this season.

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