BIRMINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Captain Andrew  Strauss said England’s players needed to improve their  timekeeping after Andrew Flintoff was reprimanded for missing a  team engagement.

The all-rounder missed the bus that took the players to  World War I sites in Flanders on Saturday, an excursion designed  to improve team bonding before the Ashes start against Australia  with the first test on July 8.

Strauss said the 31-year-old Flintoff, back in the squad  after knee surgery, was not the only player to lapse recently in  terms of punctuality.

“These things happen, it’s not a massive issue,” Strauss  told reporters yesterday. “(But) timekeeping is important …  you don’t want to be starting things like team meetings late.

“Fred (Flintoff) has spoken to the players, myself and  (coach) Andrew (Flower). Of course there have been issues with  Fred in the past but for us to start looking back would be  counter-productive.

“He feels bad about missing the bus. The matter was dealt  with internally and we don’t want to go into detail,” added  Strauss as England prepared for the three-day practice game with  Warwickshire that starts today.

WORLD CUP

Flintoff was stripped of the vice-captaincy in March 2007  after a late-night drinking session during the World Cup in the  Caribbean.

Strauss said the team would not allow special treatment for  senior players like Flintoff but the captain tried to play the  incident down.

“We are not particularly happy dealing with these matters  … we don’t need distractions like this,” said the opening  batsman. “But at the same time Fred has been brilliant around  the guys and is really motivated and desperate to do well in the  Ashes.

“If he is playing well he is a massive asset to have. If he  needs any more motivation hopefully he has got it now.”