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Flintoff celebrates return with a double strike
ENGLAND all-rounder Andrew
Flintoff made a successful return
to bowling as his rehabilitation
from ankle surgery intensified at
the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge
in Abu Dhabi.
Flintoff marked his first action
with ball in hand for six months
by claiming a couple of wickets
in the 109-run victory over Sussex
at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
A double success in his opening
three-over burst was followed
by a return late in the innings as
the 30-year-old, operating at a decent
pace, finished with figures of
5-1-9-2.
It was Flintoff's first bowl in a
competitive match since England's
defeat by India in the ICC
World Twenty20 Championship
in Durban on September 19 last
year.
This is his first pre-season for
a while,'' said Lancashire coach
Mike Watkinson. Everything
has been full match intensity all
the time in previous comebacks.
I suppose he's bowling at 70
per cent at the moment - he's not
supposed to be anything like 100
per cent - but his rhythm is good,
his confidence is good and it all
looks fluid.
The thing that helps here is
that he's not building up to anything
in particular, there's no
deadline. We're just looking to
play him as an all-rounder in our
first County Championship
match this season and then build
on that.''
There have been initial talks
between the England set-up and
Lancashire with a view to
Flintoff playing for the MCC
against Sussex at Lord's in a fourday
match, starting on April 10.
But with Lancashire's first
championship fixture beginning
the following week there will be
inevitable concerns over the
scheduling, and eight days of
competitive cricket in ten might
be too many at that stage of his
recuperation.
Discussions will probably
take place when we get home as
to the best value for him, whether
he can play both games,'' said
Watkinson.
We'll have to decide the best
way to stagger his workload to
give him the overs he needs for recovery.
We don't want him bowling
every day of the week.''
Introduced for the ninth over of
the innings yesterday, Flintoff's
left ankle, which has undergone
four sets of surgery, showed no ill
effects.
He struck twice in his second
over. Opener Chris Nash was
trapped leg before, and Ben
Brown was then bowled as the
2007 county champions were reduced
to 35 for four.
11:05am Thursday 20th March 2008
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