England's Andrew Flintoff claims he is doing all he can to try and overcome the injuries that have plagued his recent career.
All-rounder doing "everything physically possible" to get back to full fitness
Andrew Flintoff claims he is doing all he can to try and overcome the injuries that have plagued his recent career and get back to the sort of form he showed in England's 2005 Ashes victory.
The all-rounder is in South Africa with England ahead of their debut in the inaugural World Twenty20, despite suffering yet more problems with his left ankle.
Flintoff missed most of the current season after undergoing a third operation on the ankle, but the relapse forced him to miss matches in the recent NatWest Series against India.
And, with the World Twenty20 closely shadowed by a one-day series in Sri Lanka, there remain question marks over whether Flintoff can cope with England's schedule.
Rehab work
But, aside from the punishing rehabilitation work he now undertakes in an effort to haul himself back to full fitness, Flintoff remains relaxed about his long-term Test future.
"There's nothing I can do," said Flintoff, speaking in Cape Town ahead of England's first match in the World Twenty20 against Zimbabwe on Thursday.
"I'm doing everything physically possible to get myself out onto the cricket field and I'm doing everything treatment-wise and everything in training and my rehab programme.
"First and foremost I want to play well in this tournament and then go on to Sri Lanka afterwards. I want to play a part for the Test side and getting back to bowling as many overs as I can or whatever the captain expects of me on the day, but we'll probably have to see how this next month goes.
"I'm not going to make any big statements or make any big plans but I'm hopeful of doing that - I'll probably have a better idea after the trip to Sri Lanka during the one-dayers."
Change of action?
Nevertheless, there have been doubts voiced about Flintoff's ability to prolong his career - one of the loudest being that of England bowling coach Allan Donald.
Donald has suggested that, in order to maintain his Test place, Flintoff should modify his bowling action in order to place less stress on his left ankle.
But Flintoff has expressed his belief that, for now, he is perfectly happy maintaining the status quo.
"I'm not bothered what is said to be honest," he added.
"I'm comfortable with what I'm doing and time will tell what happens either way."
Live coverage of England's match against Zimbabwe is on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday, starting at 12.30pm.
