Sport News

Flintoff hopes for England recall

category: Cricket

10.05.2008 12:52

Andrew Flintoff will find out on Sunday whether England's selectors believe he is ready to play his first Test match since January 2007.

Flintoff is hoping to make the squad for next week's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's.

He has proved he is fully fit following ankle surgery by bowling well for Lancashire, but is short of runs.

England have fitness concerns over Paul Collingwood and keeper Tim Ambrose but both are likely to make the squad.

Collingwood was given a pain-killing injection because of a shoulder problem during Durham's Championship defeat by Lancashire, and his condition will be assessed by England's medical staff when the team gathers at Lord's.

But Ravi Bopara could be included in the squad as cover after recently turning down the chance to play in the Indian Premier League to focus on trying to further his England career.

Ambrose, meanwhile, has a sore neck, but he is confident he will shake it off in time to make his first home Test appearance.



The main topic occupying the minds of England supporters, however, is the possible return of Flintoff, the star of the Ashes triumph against Australia three summers ago.

It has already prompted fierce debate, with former England captains Sir Ian Botham and Mike Atherton urging the selectors to delay Flintoff's comeback.

"I would just hold Fred back a bit. I'd like him to play a bit more county cricket," Botham told BBC Sport.

"I'd like him to have plenty of overs under his belt and plenty of runs as a batsman come the South Africans (later in the summer), because I think that will be a much sterner test.

"I'd just like him to be given that time to get his confidence back; full confidence in his body and more importantly in that ankle."

But Flintoff has been bowling with plenty of pace and hostility for Lancashire, and staff at Old Trafford believe there is no need for any caution by England.

"I'd hate to go into that first Test against New Zealand, into any game, without Flintoff," said Lancashire captain Stuart Law.



"There's no question about his fitness. He does more fitness work than anyone. Everyone highlights the fact that he likes a good time - he's a young man, he's allowed a good time - but he works hard.

"He's been training on a Saturday night at nine o'clock down the gym, [and been] up again to do the same at six o'clock on a Sunday morning."

If Flintoff is included in the squad, the selectors will face a tricky decision over who to leave out of the final XI to make room for him.

Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Monty Panesar were part of a four-man attack, spearheaded by Ryan Sidebottom, which bowled England to victory in the Test series in New Zealand earlier this year.

But one of them would have to make way unless England choose to use five bowlers at Lord's and leave out a batsman in the hope that Flintoff will make a sizeable contribution.

Such a move would not be justified in the light of Flintoff's form for Lancashire - he averages only 5.75 in the Championship and was dismissed for nought in both innings against Durham.

"People are saying he's not scoring enough runs. He's working his utmost to get that right. He's one shot away from being back. But his bowling is out of this world," Law commented.

"From an England point of view and an Andrew Flintoff point of view, I want him to go and be the best he can be in that side.

"At one stage he was rated the best all-rounder. He can be that again - there's no doubt."



Possible England squad: M Vaughan (capt), A Strauss, A Cook, K Pietersen, I Bell, P Collingwood, R Bopara, A Flintoff, T Ambrose, S Broad, R Sidebottom, M Panesar, J Anderson.

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