No place for Flintoff

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been left out of the MCC side to face Sussex in the domestic season opener at Lord's next week.

Lancashire were concerned at the prospect of Flintoff, who underwent a fourth operation on his left ankle last year, playing in the four-day match and a county championship fixture against Surrey in the space of 10 days.

The 30-year-old began bowling competitively in the pre-season Arabian Cricket Challenge earlier this month and will now step up his rehabilitation in Lancashire's friendly fixtures ahead of their April 16 start.

Middlesex's Ed Joyce, one of four players with international experience in the MCC party, will captain the side.

Joyce's county colleague Owais Shah, who was on both England Test tours without playing this winter, is also included along with another man with a point to prove, Ravi Bopara.

The squad also contains several England Lions players, with Yorkshire all-rounder Adil Rashid among them.

Joyce said: "With the spotlight on this game it's a chance for all of the guys to get some early-season form and make the England selectors sit up and take notice.

"There will be a lot of determined cricketers at Lord's and you can expect a very competitive match as a result."