Andy Flintoff's Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson is hoping the player can bounce back and help England win the World Cup: "We (Lancashire) are a long way from St Lucia and only know what we've heard on TV and read in the papers.

"Fred is a centrally contracted player and has been part of the ECB set up for a long time.

"It seems from reports, this wasn't an isolated incident and that Fred has been warned previously about his behaviour.

"If this was the case, the England Team Management didn't have much of choice in handing down their punishment, for which Freddie has publicly apologised.

"He is arguably England's most talent player and it's now up to him to focus his attention on playing his best cricket and helping England win the World Cup".