Fit Flintoff would have played in Test

England coach Peter Moores confirmed that a fit Andrew Flintoff would have been included in the squad for the first Test against New Zealand, even though the all-rounder has not played a Test match for over a year.

For much of that time the Lancashire star has been battling to overcome the effects of a fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle.

But having returned to county action at the start of this season, he was ruled out last week of the first two Tests of the three-match series against New Zealand with a side strain.

"Fred (Flintoff) would have been in the squad," Moores told reporters at Lord's Tuesday, where the first Test starts on Thursday.

"It would have given us a chance to assess exactly where he is, first hand.

"Whether he would have been fit enough to play in that Test would have been a decision to make, but he'd have been in the squad.

"In the end, the decision was taken out of our hands. But it's a minor injury, common to bowlers. He'll hopefully recover quickly then we'll see where we are.

"He's been very fast and the most promising thing is that the ankle injury that has been troubling him over the last two to three years has touch wood, gone away. They've made some repairs, got it stable, and he's pain free which is the ultimate thing for a bowler."

Even without Flintoff, England still managed to win 2-1 in New Zealand earlier this year.

In contrast to Flintoff, England have selected Paul Collingwood even though the Durham all-rounder recently had an injection in his right, bowling, shoulder.

Aside from their fitness problems, the form of captain Michael Vaughan is also a concern for England.

The Yorkshire batsman had a meagre average of just over 20 in New Zealand and has now moved back down to number three in the order from his opening position in a straight swap with Andrew Strauss.

"He'll have been disappointed in New Zealand he didn't get that score, but he seems in a really good place at the minute," said Moores.

"We changed it round in New Zealand because post-Sri Lanka we wondered whether Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook's style of batting would have been too similar," Moores explained.

"Michael at the time was keen to bat at No.3 because as captain he likes that time to come off the field - sometimes when you're at the end of an innings, you're captaining you watch any opening batsman and they're already getting into their shape.

"That's very difficult as captain.

"We took that on board and talked to Straussy, who's just got a score (a century in the third Test in New Zealand) and is very confident. He wanted to go back up the order and start in that opening spot.