Andrew Flintoff has brushed aside, nonchalantly, concerns that the captaincy at home against Sri Lanka next week will be an added burden to his burgeoning list of roles within the England team.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that Michael Vaughan will definitely miss next week's first Test.

David Graveney, chairman of selectors, hinted yesterday that Flintoff is likely to take over as captain, continuing from where he left off in India. Flintoff, though, was excited about the prospect of captaining at home.

"I got an opportunity in India which I enjoyed but to do it at the home of cricket would be fantastic. I enjoy being involved in the game -captaining your country can't be a burden.

"It's been great fun to be honest. The lads all know their jobs and get on with their business and help me out

whenever possible. When fielding at slip when I haven't been captain, I've still been thinking about the game. So there's no great change there and I enjoy the responsibility and being involved in the game.

"It's something I enjoyed rather than feared. Being England captain can't be a burden, it's a fantastic job and something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid. To get the opportunity to do it in India was great fun. Burden is very much the wrong word."

Steve Harmison's absence has also been confirmed by the ECB for the first Test as selectors meet on Sunday to announce England's squad. Graveney said only players who featured in at least one four-day Championship game would be considered. Neither Vaughan nor Harmison has played since returning from India.

Paul Collingwood stood in for Vaughan in Pakistan and India, scoring a maiden Test century in the first Test in Nagpur and a couple of halfcenturies in Lahore the Test before. Alastair Cook hit a debut century in the same Nagpur Test and is also pushing for a place in the final XI.