Injuries of star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Ravi Bopara seem
to be a major concern for hosts England as it may also hamper their chances
of taking part in the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup starting in 10 days time.
Flintoff has been bothered by a troublesome left ankle that forced him to miss
the fifth one-dayer at Headingley while Bopara dislocated his right thumb in dropping
a return catch from Gautam Gambhir during the India innings yesterday.
Bopara, however, had come out to bat in pain.
Both Flintoff and Bopara's fitness will be assessed tomorrow
at the Oval ahead of the sixth one-dayer.
"It's a quick turnaround after the one-day series but
they will both be gauged in the next couple of days and hopefully they are not
as bad as they may seem at the moment," said England captain Paul Collingwood.
"Obviously the medical staff will assess them over the next couple of
days and then make a decision.
"Ravi is in a little bit of pain but these things tend
to be sore for 24 hours and we will assess it tomorrow." As of now, there
is a question mark against both the allrounders boarding the plane to South
Africa.
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