LONDON, (Reuters) – England all-rounder Andrew  Flintoff is doubtful for the second Ashes test starting at  Lord’s on Thursday after twisting his right knee during the  drawn first test in Cardiff.

Durham fast bowler Steve Harmison was added to the 13-man  England squad on Monday as cover for Flintoff who has suffered  several injuries in recent years.
Flintoff had not played for England since injuring his hip  in the third test against West Indies in Antigua this year. He  then returned home early from the Indian Premier League to  undergo an operation on a torn meniscus in his right knee.

“It’s just a bit of a reaction to one of the old knee  injuries,” England chairman of selectors Geoff Miller told Sky  Sports.

“I don’t think it’s too bad from what we can make out. It’s  not disastrous, but we’ve just got to be very wary of it, just  monitor it. We’ve obviously gone for a selection to cover that.”

Harmison would have come under consideration anyway after  his fine first class form and six wickets for the England Lions  against Australia.
England’s five frontline bowlers conceded more than 100 runs  each in Australia’s only innings in Cardiff and even if Flintoff  is ruled fit Harmison could play.

England are unlikely to play both spinners Graeme Swann and  Monty Panesar and Harmison would then dispute the final place  with his county team mate Graham Onions.

“Steve’s been bowling really well for Durham and he bowled  really well in the Lions game,” Miller said.

“We’ve just watched him perform. We know what his  capabilities are, we know how good an international bowler he is  and he’s bowling well at the moment.”
England – Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ravi  Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Matt Prior, Andrew  Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Monty  Panesar, Graham Onions, Ian Bell, Steve Harmison.