England [Images] all rounder Andrew Flintoff [Images] has been cleared of any serious injury after an X-ray examination of a wrist injury he suffered in the World XI's third one-day international against Australia on Sunday.

In dropping a sharp caught and bowled chance, Flintoff was struck on the right wrist by a straight drive from Ricky Ponting [Images] on the second ball of his fifth over, with the Australian captain on 41.

Pointing had smashed a six off Flintoff's previous delivery.

The 27-year-old Flintoff received treatment on the field for several minutes before he was taken off and treated with an ice pack, team officials said.

He was initially expected to return to the field during Australia's innings, but officials said later that Flintoff had been taken to an inner-city Melbourne hospital for checks.

Officials said at the end of Australia's innings, when they scored 293 for five after an unbroken 145-run sixth-wicket partnership from Mike Hussey (75 not out) and Shane Watson (66 not out), that the X-rays had revealed "nothing serious".

Flintoff was expected to return to the ground but officials were not immediately sure if he would bat in the World XI's innings.

Ashes man-of-the-series Flintoff is also in the World XI squad to play Australia in a six-day Test starting on Friday in Sydney and in England's squad for their tour of Pakistan starting later this month.