LONDON, July 17: England's selectors will have to negotiate their way through some tricky injury questions before announcing on Sunday their squad for next week's first Test against the West Indies.

Michael Vaughan's side go into the four-match campaign on the back of a poor one-day showing which saw them fail to qualify for the NatWest Series triangular final, won by New Zealand against the West Indies at Lord's earlier this month.

But England's form in five-day cricket, where there are no restrictions on the amount of overs spearhead quick Stephen Harmison can deliver, has been rock solid in 2004 with six wins in seven unbeaten matches during series wins away to the West Indies and then at home against New Zealand.

However, fitness concerns may prevent England choosing their ideal line-up for Thursday's opening Test of four at Lord's.

Andrew Flintoff was rushed back from an ankle injury during the one-dayers and the big-hitting Lancashire all-rounder responded with back-to-back centuries.

However, Flintoff was unable to bowl and despite optimistic noises from the England camp may again be out of the pace attack next week.

But such has been Flintoff's importance with the bat, not to mention his slip fielding, that England could play him as a batsman only.

Their medical advice during the one-dayers was that fielding would not worsen Flintoff's injury although whether that still holds true in the longer form of the game remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, number three batsman Mark Butcher is struggling with a torn thigh muscle. The 31-year-old Surrey left-hander, who has played in all of England's last 42 Tests, hopes to prove his fitness in a one-day county match on Sunday.

If Butcher is unavailable, Kent's Robert Key - the first batsman to 1,000 first-class runs this season - appears the obvious alternative with opener Vaughan also battling a back problem.

Butcher, who has never played a One-day International, is desperate to stay involved with a winning Test side.

"It is not just about momentum, this team is a good team with people performing at a high standard," he said.

England's first series win in the Caribbean for 36 years was built on the four-man pace attack of Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Flintoff.

But Glamorgan's Jones missed the last two Tests against New Zealand with a foot injury while Yorkshire swing bowler Hoggard was recently sidelined with a knee problem.

However, both bowlers appeared for MCC against the West Indies in the tourists' narrow three-day game win at Arundel concluded on Thursday.

Harmison though has been the star, the 25-year-old Durham paceman taking 23 wicket at under 15 in the Caribbean and following that up with 21 at less than 23 apiece against the Kiwis.-AFP