England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will miss the fifth and final cricket test against the West Indies starting in a week's time in Trinidad, team officials confirmed today.
The 31-year-old has a "torn hip flexor", sustained during the drawn third test in Antigua a week ago and will fly home tonight, in the middle of the fourth test, to continue his rehabilitation in England.
Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, said he was hopeful that Flintoff would rejoin the tour on March 10 in time for the one-off twenty20 international and the five-match one-day international series.
"We're determined that we are going to do everything possible to get Andrew fit for the one-day international series which starts in a couple of weeks time," Morris said. "We feel that Andrew's rehabilitation will be best served by him going home for that period of time."
Morris said that England's chief medical officer Dr. Nick Peirce and his team will oversee his recovery over the next two weeks.
England's twenty20 match against the West Indies is on March 15 and then five one-day internationals beginning March 20.
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