Flintoff expects to be fit for IPL stint

Andrew Flintoff does not believe he will be forced to sacrifice the riches on offer in the Indian Premier League for the sake of England's Ashes chances.

The all-rounder has been ruled out of the fourth Test against West Indies, which starts on Thursday, due to a strained muscle in his right hip.

"The IPL's still a while away so for all intents and purposes I'll be fit for that," he told The Guardian. "I'm intending to go but it's not really at the forefront of my thinking - I want to play Test cricket and I want to play the one-day internationals."

Flintoff insists it is in England's interests for their players to take part in the IPL, with the ICC World Twenty20 to take place on home soil this summer.

"As much Twenty20 cricket going into that World Cup will obviously benefit the side," he added.

"You see how the Indians have gone - it's had a knock-on effect in one-day internationals.

"Obviously financially it's great. But to further our game and get better in that form of the game, it's important we go."