England are to give key batsman John Crawley extra time to recover his fitness for the second Ashes Test and have therefore decided against naming their team as planned this morning.

Crawley was revealed as doubtful for the match at the Adelaide Oval starting tomorrow, after he struggled through practice today with a bruised hip.

Coach Duncan Fletcher had claimed the injury - sustained during the drawn match with Australia A in Hobart earlier this week - was "getting worse".

The tourists were instead expected to name Kent batsman Robert Key as Crawley's replacement as they attempt to bounce back from their 384-run defeat in the first Test at Brisbane.

"He's not looking too good," confirmed coach Duncan Fletcher. "He got that knock on the leg in Hobart and it doesn't look too promising for him - he's got a bit of a problem with bruising that doesn't seem to be getting better."

England have a natural replacement in Kent batsman Robert Key, who scored an unbeaten 174 in Tasmania, but Fletcher stressed they would miss the former Lancashire captain's experience.

"He's done well for us, he's batting really well," said Fletcher.

"He's an experienced campaigner which is good, he plays spin very well, which is important, and it's not easy to replace that."

Crawley's news comes less than 24 hours after Andrew Flintoff was ruled out of the next two Tests having failed to recover from the effects of his summer double hernia operation, while Ashley Giles has been sidelined for at least six weeks after having his left wrist fractured while facing fast bowler Steve Harmison in the nets.

Giles is due to fly home later today to continue his rehabilitation with a view to returning for the final two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney over Christmas and New Year.

Ironically, Giles' injury could have been prevented had an arm-guard which he had ordered, which is due to arrive at the team hotel tomorrow, arrived a day earlier.

Giles' absence has given an unexpected Test recall to Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson, who will be England's only specialist slow bowler until the selectors decide whether a replacement will be flown out.