Dravid banks on Flintoff absence

8220;Fast-bowling all-rounders are like gold and England have a problem replacing him. His absence makes things far more equal this time,8221; Dravid was quoted as saying by the BBC.

Flintoff have 22 wickets in nine Tests against India and, as captain, took 3/14 as England won the final Test in Mumbai to level the series in 2005-6. 8220;When England came to India last time he was brilliant. He led really well and he was outstanding with bat and ball.8221;

Things have not gone so well for Flintoff since that tour losing the Ashes 5-0 as captain and then being stripped of the vice-captaincy at the World Cup after some late night adventures in the Caribbean.

The 29-year-old player is working hard with long-term physio and mentor Dave Roberts to recuperate and might feature in the seven-match one-day series beginning at The Rose Bowl on August 21.

Dravid also said England were strengthened by the selection of Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior, who has scored a century and two 50s in his first six Test innings.

8220;Prior lends a lot of balance, but we8217;ve got to play the whole team. England are ranked second behind Australia so obviously they have a good set-up and I followed their series against West Indies closely,8221; he said.