The all-rounder admitted to feeling stiff after bowling 18 overs against Queensland and is replaced by Craig White.

The Yorkshireman was not in the original England squad for the tour but will form part of a four-strong seam attack alongside Andrew Caddick, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones.

Ashley Giles provides England's spin alternative while John Crawley gets the nod over Robert Key for the final batting spot.

Coach Duncan Fletcher admitted: "We had a tough choice to make in the all-rounder position between Andrew Flintoff and Craig White, but we just felt that the first Test has come round a couple of days too early for Andrew following his comeback from a hernia operation.

"He's still feeling some stiffness after the three-day match against Queensland and we had concerns about how his body would react to the demands of a five-day game."

England may now seek to organise a grade cricket match this weekend for Flintoff to give him further practice before their next tour match against Australia A in Hobart, which begins on November 15, with a view to him regaining his fitness for the second Test in Adelaide a week later.

England team to face Australia at Brisbane:

Hussain (capt), Trescothick, Vaughan, Butcher, Crawley, Stewart (wkt), White, Giles, Caddick, Jones, Hoggard.