1999 - Forced to return from England's tour of South Africa after breaking a foot while bowling in fourth Test at Cape Town.

2000 - His part in England's successful tour of Pakistan is cut short by a back injury.

2002 - Battles against injury throughout a disappointing personal summer against Sri Lanka and India. Undergoes hernia operation after being dismissed for a pair in third Test against India at Headingley. Faces battle to prove fitness for first Ashes Test against Australia at Brisbane - and eventually makes it only as a substitute fielder at The Gabba before flying home because of his groin injury.

2003 - Passed fit for what proves a disappointing World Cup for England in South Africa. Suffers shoulder injury and misses both Tests against Zimbabwe. Misses two Tests in Bangladesh through injury.

2004 - Initially ruled out of NatWest Series because of injury but returns to star with the bat in an otherwise misfiring England team against New Zealand and West Indies.

2005 - Rumours about the seriousness of a side strain gather pace during England's tour of South Africa; eventually flies home to have surgery for the first time on his left ankle.

2006 - Misses mid-summer one-day series against Sri Lanka after being advised to rest ankle injury. Fails to come through Lancashire's Championship match against Kent unscathed as he tries to prove his fitness to return as England captain for the second Test against Pakistan on his home ground. It is announced he will undergo more surgery on his left ankle and is expected to be out for 12 weeks.

2007 - After missing the first two Tests against West Indies because of his troublesome left ankle, it is announced he needs an operation. Plays in England's World Twenty20 campaign in South Africa but flies home rather than taking part in the one-day series in Sri Lanka; it is then announced he has undergone his third bout of surgery, in under 15 months, on his ankle - and fourth in all. He is ruled out of the Test series in Sri Lanka and rated unlikely to be fit for the spring tour of New Zealand.

2008 - Misses England's Test and one-day series against New Zealand because of a side strain sustained playing for Lancashire but returns for the second Test against South Africa.

2009 - A hip injury forces him to fly home from England's tour of West Indies before the fourth Test - but he returns in time for the one-day international series.

Returns home early from his stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League to undergo surgery on a torn meniscus in his right knee.

Ruled out of England's ICC World Twenty20 squad as he recovers from the operation on his knee.

Emerges as a doubt for the second Ashes Test, after suffering discomfort in the same knee.