England talisman Andrew Flintoff has urged the selectors to name him in the side for next week's first Test against New Zealand.
All-rounder eyeing Lord's return
England talisman Andrew Flintoff has urged the selectors to name him in the side for next week's first Test against New Zealand.
The Lancashire all-rounder has not played for his country for more than a year but after taking seven of 13 Durham wickets to fall at Old Trafford this week, he is raring to get back into international action.
"I definitely feel I could play a Test match now," Flintoff told
The Sun. "I've missed a lot of international cricket in the past, so I'm itching to play for England once more.
"My bowling in both forms of the game has been going very well. The ball is coming out nicely and there have been no ill-effects or twinges in the ankle, which is a big relief."
The selectors will announce the side for Lord's on Sunday and Flintoff is aware he faces competition from England's other seamers.
Firing
"As far as the Test is concerned, we'll just have to wait and see," he said. "Most of the England bowlers are firing.
"Jimmy Anderson and Matthew Hoggard are taking wickets, big Steve Harmison is bowling well against us this week and Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom are bowling well for Notts.
"What really pleases me is I have bowled some eight-over spells and 12 in a session on Wednesday with no problems.
"I had a bit of body stiffness when I first started bowling again but I feel confident and the opposition we've faced in county cricket has been tough."
Flintoff has had two ducks in the current Championship game but he is confident that is just a temporary blip.
"In the nets, I'm hitting the ball fine," he added. "Anyone can get a first-baller and, in fairness, I got a good delivery from Peter Trego against Somerset and the ball against Durham on Wednesday moved enough to take the edge.
Pride
"I still consider myself a batting all-rounder. I think I always will. I would say I take more pride in my batting. I just need to get a score and I'll be fine. If I do play for England again, I'd love to bat as high up the order as I can.
"But I know I've not set the world alight with my batting so far, so don't feel in any position to say where I want to bat.
"I'd love to have both parts of the game working well, though that's not possible very often when you're an all-rounder. Normally, the batting or the bowling is going better."
