'Injuries not cause for concern'

All-rounder Flintoff suffered a knee injury playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is doubtful for the hosts’ World Twenty20 opener against the Netherlands at Lord’s on June 5.

Star batsman Pietersen, who played in both of England’s Tests in their recent 2-0 win over the West Indies, has been ruled out of the ongoing three-match one-day series against the same opponents with an Achilles injury.

Thursday’s first match in the one-day campaign at Headingley was washed out without a ball being bowled but Flintoff and Pietersen’s absence could count against England in the second one-day international at Bristol on Sunday.

“It’s not an ideal situation, but any time you get injuries is not an ideal situation,” said Strauss. “It’s so hard to second guess whether Fred (Flintoff) would have been injured anyway, you just don’t know.

“Thankfully there is still plenty of time before the Ashes and I think we fully expect KP (Pietersen) to be ready in 10 days or so -- there’s no need to panic just yet injury-wise, it’s something we can manage,” said the England captain.