England coach Duncan Fletcher has all but ruled out handing all-rounder Andrew Flintoff the ball during the ICC Champions Trophy.
Flintoff has not played a one-day international game for England since having ankle surgery in June.
And Fletcher said he 'can't see' the English skipper bowling much during the tournament. England takes on host nation India in Jaipur on Sunday.
"We're not pushing it. I don't think he will bowl," Fletcher told BBC Sport.
"It's not a hard and fast rule. He might bowl at the back end but if he does, it won't be 10 overs. He might get through four or five overs."
"As far as I'm concerned Flintoff must be ready to bowl in (the first Ashes Test in) Brisbane and whatever's required for him to do that we will do."
Batting at No.3, Flintoff was in good form in England's warm-up game against a Rajasthan Cricket Association XI on Thursday, belting a quickfire 53 from 59 balls.
Some quarters have suggested Flintoff could open the batting but the England coach said he had not yet decided on the final line-up.
"We have to look at the balance of the side and how we fit him in on these wickets, because they are totally different to the UK," Fletcher said.
"Certain players can play power plays better than others and you've got to have players who can consolidate and hold the side together if something goes wrong."
"We don't suddenly want two guys who can hit the ball big and long getting out and then you're struggling from there on in."
"It's crucial at the back end of the innings, when the ball gets old and very soft, to have power hitters."
"It's no use having people running between the wickets, the outfields can get big and captains set fields to cut off boundaries."
"You have to clear the boundaries and you need to have big hitters for that."
