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Leeds: England have been given a huge boost ahead of next week's Ashes decider with the announcement that key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is set for a farewell to Test cricket at the Oval.
An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement issued on Monday said swelling on his right knee injury had "significantly eased".
Flintoff was ruled out of the fourth Test at Headingley, where England were thrashed inside three days by an innings and 80 runs, because of his longstanding knee injury.
England, with the series all square at 1-1, must win at the Oval - where the fifth Test starts on August 20 - to regain the Ashes, while Australia need only a draw to retain them.
But if their talismanic all-rounder is in the side, home fans will dream of a fairytale finale for both Flintoff and England.
An ECB statement said: "Andrew Flintoff's right knee injury was reviewed today (Monday) by his specialist in conjunction with the ECB and Lancashire CCC medical teams.
"The advice received was the swelling in his knee has significantly eased following the decision by the England management team to rest him from the last Test match and that, subject to further rest and intensive treatment, he will be available for selection for the fifth npower Ashes Test at the Brit Oval."
England took the controversial decision to leave out the 31-year-old all-rounder, the bowling star of their 115-run second Test win at Lord's and top-scorer in the drawn third Test at Edgbaston, from their fourth Test side because of concerns his knee injury would prevent him seeing out the game.
In pace bowler and hard-hitting batsman Flintoff's absence, England were humiliated at Headingley. To make matters worse, fast bowler James Anderson sustained a hamstring injury.
But the ECB said Flintoff's Lancashire colleague was also set to be available at the Oval.
"James Anderson also underwent a scan on his hamstring, which was clear," their statement said.
"As there is no evidence of a significant tear, it is anticipated that he will also be available for selection for next week's final Test."
Flintoff, the star of England's 2005 Ashes series win, has had an injury-blighted career and he said before the match at Lord's that this would be his final Test series.
Andrew Chandler, Flintoff's agent, was adamant his client could have played at Headingley, telling Monday's edition of The Times: "He told them he was fit enough to get through... They didn't want him.
"What they didn't take into account during Thursday's practice was that there was no adrenalin. He was hurting at Lord's but the adrenalin got him through. It would have got him through this week as well."
There were only three days between the end of the Edgbaston Test and Friday's start at Headingley and England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters after stumps on Sunday: "Hopefully we're in a better situation to get a result earlier for the final Test."
Flintoff's absence always causes a headache for England as they must then decide whether to play an extra bowler or an additional batsman.
At Headingley, they brought in another quick in Stephen Harmison only to be dismissed for 102 in their first innings on Friday after Strauss won the toss and elected to bat.
"When you haven't got an all-rounder in that number six or seven spot it is always a problem and one we are going to have to face up to because Flintoff is retiring from Test cricket," England coach Andy Flower, speaking after the end of the Headingley Test and before Monday's announcement, said.
"That is a problem because we seem to be either light on the batting side or the bowling side.
"We will have to make a decision for the Oval - if he is not fit - where we put our strength."
Flintoff, despite missing out at Headingley, remains second in England's series batting averages, behind Strauss, with 171 runs from five innings in three matches at an average of 42.75 and a best, made at Edgbaston, of 74.
But he has taken just seven wickets in the series at an expensive average of nearly 49, with most of those coming in his match-winning burst at Lord's of five for 92.
Anderson is England's joint leading wicket-taker in the series, alongside Stuart Broad, with 12 wickets at 38.91 and a best of five for 80 at Edgbaston.
But, hampered by his injury, Anderson's 18 wicketless overs at Headingley cost 89 runs.
