Net rage switched Andrew Flintoff into the overdrive gear which shook the critics off his broad back at Old Trafford.

Since Sunday's wash-out against West Indies at Lord's - which Flintoff missed - the spotlight has suddenly beamed in on his waistline.

The last thing the big Lancashire lad needed was an untidy practice session before Thursday's day-and-almost-night win over Zimbabwe in the NatWest triangular series.

Unfortunately he got it and responded by venting his frustration on a nearby set of stumps. Then England coach Duncan Fletcher walked up to put some soothing music in his ears, telling him: ''You are batting at number three.''

'Freddie' duly came up with a muscular 42 not out from first wicket down to speed England's eight-wicket canter with a little under 30 overs to spare - and Flintoff will now face West Indies at Chester-le-Street today with renewed self-belief.

''I was terrible in the nets on Wednesday,'' he admitted.

''I got so frustrated I deliberately knocked over a set of stumps. Perhaps that helped me relieve a bit of tension.

''Then Duncan told me I was batting at three, and that made me feel a lot better. I'd played in that position for Lancashire and enjoyed it and it was on my own ground, so it was great to get runs.

''Hopefully this will be the turning point, but whether I stay at number three remains to be seen. It's a different game, different opposition and the only certain thing is that we must win.

''To be honest, it doesn't matter where I bat as long as I give 100 per cent and the team wins.''

The column inches magnifying his size was not only felt by the player himself but equally by the Flintoff household.

He added: ''It was embarrassing for me more than anything else. But it was my family who suffered more. They were upset. They could not understand why I was suddenly getting called all these names.

''I did feel harshly treated, but the only way to hit back was to go out and get runs. I let my bat do the talking.

''It's been a terrible week with all the headlines about my weight. I thought Monday was bad enough when it first appeared, but it just got worse.''

Flintoff's role against Zimbabwe was to give England early momentum with changeable bowling conditions expected.

Being used to such a role playing for Lancashire, Flintoff responded pretty much without fault to the responsibility.

But it must not be forgotten that Flintoff still has a back problem to sort out, whether or not it has been aggravated by his poundage.

It was the official reason why Flintoff sat out the uncompleted game at Lord's, and he added: ''It's a case of deciding the best course of action. We will talk about it in the next few days.

''We have all the information that is possible to get after all the scans I have had.''

Warwickshire's Nick Knight, meanwhile, could be available for today's match at Durham's headquarters. He sustained a hairline fracture of a finger in the Lord's Test victory and has yet to play in the competition.

But with Somerset's Marcus Trescothick - the man brought into the squad to cover for him - fitting snugly into senior international cricket from his first ball, there is no urgent need to rush Knight back.

There are three more games left after today if England reach the final, and Knight may be saved for Tuesday's day/night game at his home ground of Edgbaston against the already-qualified Zimbabweans.

England bowled with a miserly accuracy at Old Trafford, and it was something of a feat that they conceded no wides in 38.4 overs - helped by the fact the ball did not swing a great deal in the chilly, strong wind.

Stand-in captain Alec Stewart will be calling for more of the same against a West Indies side who simply must enjoy a profitable weekend in Durham. After England today, it will be Zimbabwe at the Riverside tomorrow for them.

Having shared a point with England and been comfortably beaten twice by Zimbabwe, they must fire to stay in the competition.

Their fielding lapses in Tuesday's match against Zimbabwe at Canterbury resulted in seven chances being missed, and their batsmen collapsed alarmingly against Zimbabwe's medium-pacers.

True, it was cold, but as West Indies captain Jimmy Adams quickly pointed out it was the same for both sides.

West Indies will scarcely be expecting a heatwave in Chester-le-Street but they know they must quickly start to warm to their cricket in the next couple of days