Flintoff to undergo knee surgery after Oval Test
By IANSFriday, August 21, 2009
LONDON - England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, playing the last Ashes series Test at The Oval, will undergo a major reconstructive surgery on his knee after the match, which could force him out of cricket until next summer.
Flintoff has been booked in for surgery Tuesday to cure a chronic knee problem that has already brought an end to his Test career, said the Daily Telegraph.
Flintoff will undergo a surgery similar to the one carried out on former England captain Michael Vaughan, which involves creating micro-fractures of the bone to stimulate tissue growth and replace worn away cartilage.
The procedure will be carried out in London by Andy Williams, a surgeon who has operated upon Premier League footballers.
If his recuperation goes according to plan, Flintoff will be out for around six to nine months but any minor setback will see that date revised.
The surgery will rule him out of the Champions Trophy as well as one-day series in South Africa and Bangladesh. It will also place major doubt over his participation in next year’s Indian Premier League where he earns $1.5 million playing for the Chennai Super Kings.
