The Ashes: Flintoff out, Prior too?

So, the knee has finally hoisted the white flag and said enough is enough.  Flintoff has not recovered in time for the Headingley Test, which starts this morning, and a nation will doubtless be in morning, whilst another one quietly starts to fancy it’s chances.

But England have done well without Flintoff in the past.  The Lord’s Test was only the 4th that England have won since the 2005 Ashes with Freddie in the team.  Harmison will likely take his place, although it is possible that England will opt to include the extra batsman, debutant Jonathan Trott.

Further news is that Matt Prior has sustained an injury during the morning warmup, and that Paul Collingwood has been seen practicing with the gloves at the ground this morning.  Should Prior miss out, Trott would appear a certainty, as England will miss the keepers runs at number 6.

That’s all that England need, which explains why they had to evacuate their hotel this morning after a fire alarm. Reports that the hotel manager is Australian and organised an early-hours drill were, frankly, made up to give me something interesting to add.

So, a nervous day ahead, and Australia will suddenly feel that there is some vulnerability to be exploited.  For them, Michael Clarke has been passed fit, and the signs are that Stuart Clark will play.