Andrew Strauss. FILE PHOTO

LONDON: Andrew Strauss has been named England captain for the first Test against Pakistan which begins at Lord's on July 13.

But that is all. It is expected that Andrew Flintoff will be fit for the second Test on his home ground Old Trafford on July 27 and will take charge for the rest of the series.

The decision will lead to speculation that Michael Vaughan, who had a fourth operation on his knee on Monday, will miss the tour of Australia and that Flintoff will be asked to bat at No. 6, bowl a lot of overs, field at second slip and lead the side.

Heavy load

It is work for a big man, but then, in every sense, Flintoff is a giant and he believes he can carry out all these tasks and still have the energy left to smile, sign autographs and give the Australians a curt answer when they say their, often nasty, piece.

Almost healed

He claims the ankle injury that has kept him out of the one-day series is almost healed, and I am told by those close to him that he has been training hard — despite a couple of expeditions to the races, the One-Day International at Old Trafford and the World Cup — during his enforced holiday.

Many critics will feel that unless his ankle is fully repaired Flintoff will not be able to be four cricketers in one, and in a year when England has become more famous for its injury list than Test match feats he will be in grave danger of taking an early flight home while his team's fight for the Ashes crumbles.

David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said: "Andrew Flintoff will have his ankle re-assessed in the next few days and we will have a clearer idea then of when he will be able to return to the team and take over the captaincy. We are fortunate to have a very capable deputy available in Strauss and he will continue to lead the Test side in Flintoff's absence."

Great honour

Strauss said: "It will be a great honour to captain England in a Test Match for the first time and to lead the team out at Lord's will be a special moment for me. At this stage, I have been asked to take on the captaincy on a temporary basis until Andrew Flintoff is available for selection again.

"I fully respect the decision the selectors have taken and will be happy to play under Andrew's captaincy. He proved to be an inspirational captain in the Test series in India and everyone in the dressing room is hoping that he can make a speedy return."

Strauss has no option but to accept the verdict of the selectors but it is difficult not to feel sorry for him. If he leads England to an innings victory at Lord's — and Pakistan without Shoaib Akhtar and Naved-ul-Hasan will be vulnerable after only two practice matches at the start of the tour — he will appear unjustly treated.

No weakling

But this opening batsman who becomes England's 77th captain is no weakling. He was born in South Africa, brought up through the public school system, learned his cricketing trade at the feet of Justin Langer when he was a Middlesex overseas batsman and blossomed as an England player almost as soon as he was drafted into the team after Vaughan had been injured.

His captain in seven one-day games has not been impressive but if the selectors' gamble fails and Flintoff does not last the course, Strauss will be the automatic choice.

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