Giles injury scare for England

England have welcomed Andrew Flintoff back to the bowling crease only to start fretting about the fitness of Ashley Giles.

Flintoff was bang on course to be picked for the First Test against Bangladesh, even if it had to be purely as a specialist batsman following his ankle operation earlier this year.

Now it looks like the all-rounder could be bowling at Lord's a fortnight from now after another step along the rehabilitation trail.

But just as Flintoff began a five-over spell for Lancashire at Old Trafford yesterday, Giles was on his way for a scan on his hip, having failed to take the field for Warwickshire at Hove.

Left-armer Giles is the country's leading wicket-taker this season with 24 to his credit after three championship matches. England's selectors also have worries over batsman Graham Thorpe and fast bowler Simon Jones. Both are sidelined by back complaints.

Flintoff, meanwhile, will continue to be nursed along. "I'm probably at 75 per cent but it's nice to be bowling again," he said after claiming the wicket of Durham's Jon Lewis.