Stuart Broad believes England have the potential to win the ICC World Twenty20 without all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.

Lancashire all-rounder Flintoff is still recovering from a knee operation after suffering the injury playing in the Indian Premier League a month ago and remains a major doubt for the ICC tournament starting on June 4.

Previously England's hopes of success would have rested on the successful recovery of Flintoff, who balances the side with his ability to bowl at key parts of the innings and contribute runs down the order.

But having suffered from a variety of injuries, Broad believes England have now adapted to Flintoff's absences so well they can perform impressively without him.

"We've certainly won well without Fred in the past, but it's important we play good cricket," said Broad.

"He's obviously a very important player for us with bat and ball but players step up and take responsibility when he's not here, that's very important.

"We need to gain confidence of winning without Fred so when he comes back into the side there will be a lot of belief and confidence there."

England claimed one of their most significant one-day series away wins two years ago without Flintoff in Sri Lanka, but he has also contributed to important triumphs against South Africa last summer and their first ever win in the Caribbean which was clinched with his hat-trick in St Lucia.

Sunday's six-wicket triumph over West Indies at Bristol, when Broad claimed four for 46, was an example of how England have developed and they hope to wrap up another series win with victory in tomorrow's final match of the NatWest series at Edgbaston. "It's obviously a very short series but winning is very important all the time just to keep momentum going," Broad added. "When Fred gets fit he will obviously slot back in and hopefully buy into how we're doing it.

"Fred is the the sort of bowler who gets thrown the ball in an important situation but when he's not in the side someone else gets given the ball and takes responsibility.

"I think we've done that well when he's not been in the side and that can only be good because when we get in a pressure situation with Fred in the side, Andrew Strauss will have options.

"I thrive on that extra responsibility and I certainly like taking the new ball. In one-day cricket we talk about the first 10 overs setting the tone and that's my job with Jimmy (Anderson).

"That's as big a responsibility as you could get, it's the team saying 'You set the tone for the innings.' It's a fantastic opportunity to go out there and try and take wickets and set up a game for your team."

England are expected to make a decision about Flintoff's participation in the ICC Twenty20 later this week and unless his fitness has improved greatly, Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan is expected to be named as his replacement.

They do not have the same fears about Kevin Pietersen, who is missing the current series with an Achilles problem, but it is a measure of England's confidence they can think of entering the tournament without Flintoff and still believe they can compete.

"We've played a lot of cricket without Fred in the last couple of years," said Broad.

"I'm close to 50 ODI's and I've only played about 15 or 16 with Fred so it's important we play and adapt without him and he fits back into a role when he comes back in. "You can't rely on one or two players and you only have to look what Australia do if (Ricky) Ponting is out, they bring someone in who steps up and takes responsibility.

"It's important you don't rely on certain players to do the same sort of jobs. Everyone needs to step up and have the skills to be able to adapt."

England are expected to announce an unchanged side for Tuesday's game having unexpectedly changed their routine today from an optional practice to a full gathering of the squad.

Coach Andy Flower had initially given the players the option to rest with only one day between matches, but instead asked every squad member to attend at Edgbaston today where they undertook a debriefing on Sunday's game and a net session.

"It's crucial we keep this momentum going so that's why we got together today and discussed things," added Broad.

"It's all very well talking about what we could do better when we lose, but it's also important when you win talking through what you did really well so that you can continue your momentum."