Flintoff recall confirmed
All-rounder to make first Test appearance for 18 months
Last updated: 17th July 2008
Flintoff: long-awaited Test comeback
He will bat at number seven, and then the decision will be made whether we go for four bowlers or five.
Michael Vaughan
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Andrew Flintoff will play in the second Test against South Africa, England captain Michael Vaughan revealed on Thursday.
England have named the same starting XI for the last six matches, the first such instance in Test history, but Vaughan confirmed that Flintoff will start on Friday at Headingley.
The plan is for the Lancastrian to bat at number seven - either Paul Collingwood or one of the pace bowlers will make way, a decision that is being left until Friday morning.
"I will say that 'Freddie' Flintoff will play," Vaughan said on Sky Sports News.
"He will bat at number seven, and then the decision will be made whether we go for four bowlers or five.
"Whichever decision we make, Freddie will definitely bat at seven.
"I know 18 months is a long time but who's to say that Freddie won't come out and get a five-for and a hundred because that's his style.
"He's like KP (Kevin Pietersen) - one of these superstars who can do very special things.
"His bowling is exceptional. I've always said that. He's always bowled well for England. He should be a handful for the South Africa batsmen."
Sidebottom, Anderson doubtful
And there could be further changes to the line-up that drew the series opener at Lord's as both Chris Tremlett and Darren Pattinson have been called into the squad as cover for James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom, who are struggling with respective back injuries.
"We are waiting on Ryan Sidebottom's injury - and we are not going to know until the morning," revealed Vaughan.
"Chris Tremlett will come in as cover."
Flintoff has had two operations on his left ankle since his last Test appearance at Sydney back in in January 2007.
His hopes of a comeback against New Zealand during the first half of the summer were derailed by a side strain, but he has since proved his fitness in county cricket.
However, his form with the bat has not been good enough to merit a return to his former role at number six, leaving England with a selection conundrum.
One-day captain Collingwood is vulnerable after failing to score a half-century in Tests this summer, although it appears more likely that Stuart Broad will make way for Flintoff in a like-for-like swap.
The Nottinghamshire seamer has impressed throughout his fledgling England career, but has played non-stop since the winter tour of New Zealand and it could be viewed as prudent to rest the 22-year-old.
Should Collingwood be axed, wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose would move up one place in the order to bat at number six.
McKenzie injury
South Africa's only injury worry concerns opening batsman Neil McKenzie, who is a minor doubt with a groin strain.
McKenzie batted for more than nine hours while making 138 in the second innings of the series opener and, if he is unfit for Headingley, Jean-Paul Duminy will replace him for a Test debut.
The other possible change would be to bring Andre Nel into a four-man pace attack in place of left-arm spinner Paul Harris.
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