ANDY Flintoff has been given another chance by England, but Chris Schofield and John Crawley were snubbed when the winter tour squads were named yesterday.

Flintoff, who was dropped by England because of problems with his back and his weight after the triangular one-day series, is included in the squad for both the Tests and limited overs internationals in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Kenya.

However, he will be kicked out and replaced by Surrey paceman Alex Tudor unless he proves his fitness to bowl in the ICC Knockout Trophy in Kenya in October.

For Schofield, who like Flintoff was one of the 12 players awarded an England contract back in April, there is no good news -- although they will not surprise the young Lancashire leg-spinner, who has been completely ignored by England since being dropped ahead of the West Indies series in May. Amazingly, England have reverted to the Surrey leg-spinner Ian Salisbury, who has been tried and failed countless times in the past.

Admittedly, Salisbury has had a good season with Surrey, taking five wickets in the second innings of their victory over Lancashire at the Oval early this month.

But that was after Saqlain Mushtaq had already tied down the Lancashire batsmen and taken a couple of early wickets. In contrast his only support this winter will come from Warwickshire's left armer Ashley Giles, with Saqlain lining up against England for Pakistan.

Salisbury offered his sympathy to Schofield. "I feel sorry for the guy," he said. "Chris has huge ability and huge talent and I think there is a lack of understanding about leg spin in this country."

Schofield and young Notts wicket keeper Chris Read, who misses out to Kent's former Leicestershire veteran Paul Nixon, are almost certain to be included in an England A squad which is set to compete against the Caribbean Islands in the Busta Cup, the West Indies domestic competition, early in the New Year.

"We did consider Schofield and Read for the senior tours," said England chairman of selectors David Graveney. "But if the Busta Cup proposal goes ahead this will provide a superb opportunity for our leading young cricketers to test themselves against high-class Caribbean opposition.

"We have opted for Salisbury and Giles because they are multi-dimensional cricketers who can contribute with the bat and in the field as well as with the ball."

However, that is the ultimate insult to Schofield, who scored a half century for England against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, and is also a superb fielder. England have also ignored Crawley's undisputed ability against spin, while mike Atherton is predictably included in the Test squad but not the one-day party.

That means he will be available for the last two Championship games against Surrey and Somerset but Flintoff will not be allowed to play because England's coach Duncan Fletcher wants players selected for both squads to have a rest in September.