England are cautiously optimistic that all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will feature in Wednesday’s first Test against West Indies in Jamaica.

Flintoff, 31, has been sidelined with a side strain since the first day of competitive action in the Caribbean but showed distinct signs of a promising recovery on Saturday by bowling at full tilt before the final day of the draw with West Indies A.

He sent down the equivalent of six overs in the middle at Warner Park, gradually building up his pace throughout the spell.

"Fred is ahead of where the medical staff wanted him, so that is really encouraging but you can never be 100 per cent sure on these things until the day before the game," said captain Andrew Strauss.

"We are cautiously optimistic at the moment.

"Once the scan came back with no tear, we were always keen to play him in the first Test but you never know how these things will react and how stiff and sore he is going to be.

"So far he looks as though as he has come through it well and we will see how he goes in the two practice days before the Test."

Flintoff’s presence in the XI would help balance the side, thus giving Strauss five bowling options.

It is competitive for other places in the side after what might have been considered a bowl-out in St Kitts turned into a marathon first-innings effort.

"It was not an ideal work-out but it was a pretty good one," Strauss said, after his side responded to the hosts 574 for eight declared with 414.

"Certainly the bowlers were forced to bowl a lot of overs and they responded very well.

"The way they kept bowling spell after spell after spell was encouraging and showed they are in pretty good physical condition.

"It is a little bit hard to say how incisive they were because this wicket was ridiculously flat.

"Our fielding could have been a bit better but batting wise just about everybody has at least one decent knock in the middle."

"We head to Jamaica with just about as much as we could have got out of this practice time.

"Clearly when the Test match comes along, there will be a need to raise intensity and sharpen up all aspects."