Bullish Flintoff hedges his bets over Monty

England captain Andy Flintoff has refused to back Monty Panesar as the answer to the most pressing selection issue facing England ahead of Friday's third Ashes Test.

Calls for Panesar's call-up for the second test at Adelaide, ignored by Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher, have resounded as loudly in Perth as England consider whether to include one or two spin bowlers.

Ashley Giles was preferred ahead of Panesar in Adelaide because of his batting and fielding but he managed only two wickets for 149 runs, scored 27 and 0 and dropped Ricky Ponting on 35 during Australia's first innings. Ponting went on to make 142.

Critics of England's selectors hold that Panesar's aggressive finger spin will provide an important additional dimension to its bowling attack in Perth, on a pitch which might allow spinners to flourish.

Yet Flintoff gave little hint of England's thinking on that issue and insisted: "Selection issues crop up. For four days of the Adelaide test match it wasn't really an issue, (until) one and half hours of almost crazy cricket.

"Monty has started international cricket well, he has got fine players out and is someone who works really hard on his game, and is improving all the time."

England will not name a team until after the toss and Flintoff suggested the Panesar decision was still live and unresolved.

"This pitch has changed quite a bit over the past few days, and we will sit down and bounce the ideas around tonight," he added.