Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright has benefited from the injury crisis affecting England in India.

Wright was today due to join up with England A in the West Indies after being added to the squad.

Three players - batsmen Alistair Cook and Owais Shah and fast bowler James Anderson - have been called into the main tour party so Wright, Essex batsman Ravi Bopara and Leicestershire quickie Stuart Broad are heading to the Caribbean to take their places.

Wright will link up with Sussex team-mate Mike Yardy who made 16 and 0 as England lost by one wicket in the first Test against West Indies A in Antigua yesterday. The second Test starts in St Lucia on Friday and there is every chance that both Sussex players will be in action.

Meanwhile, new captain Andrew Flintoff (pictured) was today rallying his depleted troops ahead of the first Test against India.

In the space of three days England have lost skipper Michael Vaughan, his deputy Marcus Trescothick and pace bowler Simon Jones. Vaughan, who has suffered a recurrence of his knee injury, was joined on the plane home last night by Jones, who broke down in the nets yesterday.

Flintoff has sacrificed being at the birth of his second child to lead England in the three-match series which starts in Nagpur tomorrow (4am).

The all-rounder wanted to be present for the new arrival, expected during the week of the third Test which starts on March 18.

He said: "I have spoken to Rachael (wife) a couple of times over the last 48 hours and she has been very supportive. I am going to stay for the three Test matches and then there will be a window until the one-dayers for me to go home and see the new-born baby. It is a decision which has been made together."

On the honour of leading his country, Flintoff said: "It is something I have wanted to do and hoped I would do, probably under slightly different circumstances.

"But it is an opportunity for a young side to show their character and strength. I will be proud to walk out first in front of ten lads on Wednesday who, I know, will be fighting for an England side and myself and doing anything they can to help our performance.

Flintoff has had little time to ponder what sort of captain he may be and only has limited experience, but he believes he will not need to change.

"Within the dressing room the lads know their jobs and what they are doing," he added. "There is no need to rant and rave when you are all pulling in the same direction."

There is every chance that Flintoff will return to lead the one-day campaign. Vice-captain Trescothick is on indefinite leave for personal reasons and the length of Vaughan's absence has yet to be established.

The 31-year-old decided to fly home after the knee injury, which has plagued him since 2001 and has required three operations, flared up again.

But the long-term prognosis is not good, according to the ECB's s chief medical officer Peter Gregory.

He said: "I do fear for him if he has to have further surgery in such a short period of time since the last one."

All of which increases the chances of Sussex's Matt Prior making his Test debut. Prior is available after recovering from a stomach bug and has experience of opening the innings for the county.

But specialist Cook is likely to get the nod as Andrew Strauss's opening partner.

Hopes that England could field the four fast men so integral to their Ashes success last summer were wrecked when Jones suffered cartilage damage in his left knee in the nets yesterday.

He was back in England today to seek further advice after the latest setback in an injury-plagued career.

The Glamorgan player was out of action for 16 months after shredding the ligaments in his right knee in only his second Test appearance in 2002 and he had just returned from ankle surgery which ruled him out of the tour to Pakistan at the end of last year.

Either Liam Plunkett or Anderson will be drafted in and one of the two left-arm spinners, Monty Panesar and Ian Blackwell, are certain to make their Test debuts.