NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Opener Andrew Strauss believes the senior players in the England team must ensure captain Andrew Flintoff does not overexert himself with the ball during the Ashes series in Australia.

The 28-year-old all rounder returns to the side for the Champions Trophy after undergoing ankle surgery in late July and his ability to bowl at the one-day tournament is still being assessed.

England face hosts India in their Pool A opener on Sunday and while Flintoff may not be ready to bowl in that match, he is expected to be fit enough to join the attack in the first Test against Australia on Nov 23.

“Bowling as captain is very tough because you have got to concentrate very hard on what you are doing with the ball,” the Middlesex batsman said.

“It is very hard to concentrate on both the field placements and how long to bowl a spell.

“He is learning all the time as well about when to bowl long and short spells. Batting generally it is quite clear, you are either ahead in the game or behind and you bat accordingly.

“He is going to need a lot of support from the senior players,” he added. “I'm more than happy to give him that.”

Flintoff was selected as skipper for the Champions Trophy and Ashes in the absence of injured Michael Vaughan, given the job ahead of Strauss, who led England to a 3-0 home Test series victory over Pakistan and a 2-2 draw in the one-dayers.

“I was quite flattered (to be considered at all), it was a tough decision,” Strauss told reporters. “I only had came in as a replacement for Flintoff.”—Reuters