BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

Things may become a little easier for the West Indies in their five-Test series against England.

The visitors will be without key all-rounder Andrew Flintoff for the fourth Test, starting on Thursday at Kensington Oval.

A medical scan on Friday in Barbados revealed that the 31-year-old has a muscle strain in his right hip.

"I am obviously very dis-appointed to miss the Test match and I will be taking the advice of the England medical team that is out here," said Flintoff.

An England team spokesman said that Flintoff would remain on the tour in the hope that rest will aid his recovery.

Flintoff was treated with an anti-inflammatory injection midway through the drawn third Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground in Antigua.

He continued to bowl take an active role in the Test, including bowling three spells on Thursday's final day, as England pressed for a series-levelling victory.

"We hope that he can prove his fitness for the final Test in Trinidad," England director of communications Colin Gibson said.

Flintoff only began the Test series after recovering from a left-side strain incurred in the opening week of the tour.

Amjad Khan and Ravi Bopara will arrive in Barbados as cover for Flintoff, and they could play in the two-day, warm-up match which begins today at the Windward Sports Club here.

Fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad felt the injury to Flintoff provides others like himself to step-up, but he believed that England could still win the Test series.

"During my short career, we have played a lot without him," he said. "He's a vital cog, but the team adapts well without him. You canÕt rely on any one player. It's an opportunity for someone else to step up.

"It's a massive shame to lose Fred and the balance of the side will have to change. Whether we bring in a batsman or a bowler is up to the hierarchy, but the side is full off confidence after what was a fantastic Test for us. It was disappointing not to win, but we can take a lot of positives from it."