England draft in Flintoff

All-rounder added to Lord's line-up for Headingley

Last updated: 14th July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

England draft in Flintoff

Flintoff: Back to form

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Andrew Flintoff has been included in the England squad for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley starting on Friday.

The all-rounder has been in action for Lancashire since suffering a side strain last month and has been reported in good physical shape ahead of a possible comeback for the national side.

Flintoff, who has not played Test cricket since the ill-fated Ashes tour of 2006-07, has been bowling at full pace for some time and, while his batting has taken longer to come back, the England management clearly believe he is ready to take on the South Africans.

He was in good form on Monday, hitting three sixes as he took Lancashire across the winning line against Hampshire, scoring 39 not out in a 23-ball innings.

The 30-year-old has been added to the Lord's starting XI with 12th man Chris Tremlett standing down.

Should Flintoff get the nod it would appear that Paul Collingwood's place is under most threat, the Durham all-rounder having looked out of form in the series against New Zealand earlier this summer, and making just seven at Lord's.

But captain Michael Vaughan told Sky Sports: "It (Flintoff's recall) was decided finally this afternoon but obviously we've thought about this for some time. We did the right thing in allowing him some cricket with Lancashire.

"Now you've got to assess the conditions on the ground you play on. The forecast at Headingley is very crucial so we'll know more about our XI when we get there."

Welcoming

The tourists' skipper Graeme Smith, who hailed his side's two-day rearguard in the match, also welcomed Flintoff's return to international cricket.

"It was backs up against the wall for us and I can't ask for any more. All credit, the wicket played really well but you have to go and do it and the lads

did," he said.

"We showed good strength.

"We did expect Freddie to come back sooner rather than later," he continued.

"Cricket in general needs players like him; he's great for the game."

Man-of-the-match Ian Bell, whose 199 in the first innings saw him beat Smith and opening partner Neil McKenzie to the award, also welcomed back the iconic all-rounder.

Bell also denied Flintoff's impending return had applied unnecessary pressure on the starting team.

"It's a good thing for England to have that kind of pressure, it's a good thing. Fred being fit didn't make the pressure any worse."

Of his own performance, Bell added: "It was nice to go on and get a big hundred, that's something I've been desperate to do. Hopefully I've shown people how I can play at this level."

England squad: MP Vaughan (capt, Yorkshire), AN Cook (Essex), AJ Strauss (Middlesex), KP Pietersen (Hampshire), IR Bell (Warwickshire), PD Collingwood (Durham), TR Ambrose (wkt, Warwickshire), SCJ Broad (Nottinghamshire), RJ Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), MS Panesar Northamptonshire), JM Anderson (Lancashire), A Flintoff (Lancashire).