12 Aug 2009

Flintoff cleared for Ashes finale

7:43 am on 12 August 2009

There's been a massive boost for the England cricket team whose inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been cleared to play in his farewell Test next week at the Oval in London - the deciding match of the Ashes series against Australia.

England took the controversial decision to leave out the hero of their second Test win because of concerns that his knee injury would prevent him seeing out the game.

Flintoff's agent maintained the player had declared himself fit for the fourth Test at Headingley but he was overruled by coach Andy Flower and captain Andrew Strauss.