England captain Michael Vaughan gave those assurances on Thursday but was unable to announce his team because of worries over seam bowler Ryan Sidebottom's fitness after a back injury.

"I will say that 'Freddie' Flintoff will play," said Vaughan. "He will bat at number seven, and then the decision will be made whether we go for four bowlers or five."

Hampshire pace bowler Chris Tremlett was called up as bowling cover on Thursday morning, and Nottinghamshire's Darren Pattinson is also on standby due to back soreness felt by James Anderson.