Lee's Absence Justified; Flintoff's Not?

While Brett Lee and Shane Watson have been at loggerheads over the former's possible selection, Andrew Flintoff's agent claims that the England allrounder was kept out without reason.

flintoff ap

Watson found resonance with former Australian cricketers, Allan Border and Jason Gillespie, when he stated that Lee would need more time to get to match fitness, Flintoff's agent is suggesting quite another angle.

Flintoff's agent claims that Flintoff was no more worse than he was at Lord's and that the England allrounder who announced his retirement at the end of the Ashes was very shattered by the decision on the part of the England captain, Andrew Strauss, and England coach, Andy Flower, to leave him out of the fourth Test of the Ashes at Headingley that England eventually lost rather embarrassingly so.

While England were worried if Flintoff could hold up to the rigours of the Test after his lacklustre showing at Edgbaston in the third Test, his agent claims that the only reason Flintoff flagged because there was no winning proposition for England unlike at Lord's which pushed Flintoff into the orbit.

Now it will interesting if indeed the England team missed Flintoff's charisma and if that will dominate selection for the fifth Test at the Oval as the result of the Ashes 2009 now hinges delicately on that match alone.

All Uneasy in Australian Camp as Watson-Lee Differences Get Attention

Justin Langer Disappointed at Dossier Leak

Aussie Fan Set Off Fire Alarm To Disrupt England?

Justin Langer Slathers England Team with Unkind Words

Ashes T 4 Day 3: It's a Wrap for Australia , Ashes Even

Ashes T 4 Day 3 Lunch: Broad Mayhem Denies Australia Early Celebration

Ashes T 4 Day 2 Stumps: England Droop Towards Early Defeat

All Uneasy in Australian Camp as Watson-Lee Differences Get Attention

Ashes T4 Day 2 Tea: North and Australia Sink England

England In Trouble over a Woman's Wet Clothes?

Shoaib, Lee Face Uncertain Futures

Ashes T 4 Day 2 Lunch: Clarke Falls but Australia Extend Dominance

Ashes T4 Day 1 Stumps: Australia Rub in the Advantage

Ashes T 4 Day 1 Lunch and Tea: England Succumb to Aussie Pressure

Aussie Success, Impartiality - Taufel's Bane

Flintoff Rates Ashes best cricket for an Englishman

Strauss: England Not Looking to Draw

brett lee says he's ready

Michael Clarke on Injury Alert

Strauss Will Take Final Call on Flintoff

England Recall Sidebottom, Draft Jonathan Trott as Flintoff's Cover

Ponting Targets "Downhill" Flintoff - Images Being Proof?

Warne Wants Australia to Go for It Nasty Style

Ponting Breaks Door in Frustration After Edgbaston Wicket

Warne Lands himself in a Four Letter Misdemeanour

Ashes T 3 Day 5 Stumps: Clarke Helps Australia Complete Draw Formality

Ashes T 3 Day 5 Lunch and Tea: Australia nullfiy England's Winning Chances

Ashes T 3 Day 4 Stumps: England Have the Advantage

Ashes T 3 Day 4: Day 3 Washout Sees Sedate Start to Day 4

Harmison Denies retirement, Wants Ashes Avenging

Strauss Wants more ECB Stringency for IPL

Strauss, Ponting Exchange 'Aura' Theories

Ashes Drama Dampener, Flintoff’s NASA Experience

Border Wants ‘Don’t Blame Mom’ Johnson To Take Backseat

Warne Digs into Bell, Bell Promises to Return Fare

Lord’s Blows Hot over Lampard’s Pass Up

Mitchell Johnson's Time is Up according to Australia

Langer Not Making Test Comeback

Ponting Wonders about Lord’s Reaction

Flintoff Fired Up, Pietersen Flustered

Steve Harmison Joins Retirement Brigade?

Ponting: Not Being Fooled Twice

KP To Be Made an Example for Future England Players IPL Participation?

Flintoff Endorses Gilly’s View for Fewer Tests

Johnson’s Mother blamed for His Loss of Form

Qantas Offers Low Fares to Mark Australia’s Low

Mitchell’s Mother Moans CA’s Disregard for Parents

Lee, Watson On Road to Recovery, Ponting Needs Replacements

Richard Branson's Message for the Ashes Met With Angry Responses

Kevin Pietersen Out of Ashes with Achilles Surgery, Concerns for Oz

Australia Boil Over on Umpire Misgivings