FLINTOFF JOB IS HANGING BY A FRED.

(From The Daily Star)

Byline: EXCLUSIVE from MARTIN ROGERS in Sydney

ANDREW FLINTOFF'S days as England Test captain are numbered - even if Michael Vaughan fails to complete a full recovery from injury. England's dismal performances in the Ashes series have effectively ended any chance the big all-rounder had of securing the job on a permanent basis. Vaughan was always likely to be handed back the role once fully recovered from his knee injury. But if Vaughan suffers any setback between now and the start of the home summer in May, Andrew Strauss will be first in line. Starsport can reveal that the powers-that-be at the ECB now realise the Flintoff captaincy experiment has failed spectacularly. Defeat in the fifth Test would put Flintoff into the history books - for all the wrong reasons. He would be the first England captain since 1920-21 to see his team whitewashed in an Ashes series. And he would have a higher percentage of defeats as skipper than anyone who has led the team for more than three games. A shake-up is planned after the World Cup, with Duncan Fletcher expected to finish his stint as coach. While Flintoff is still regarded as one of the most important members of the team, it is increasingly felt that he would perform better without the burden of leadership. Vaughan is poised to be confirmed as captain for the one-day series against Australia and New ...