Early recall no problem for Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff has insisted he is not taking any risks with his long-term fitness by returning ahead of schedule to International action.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has insisted he is not taking any risks with his long-term fitness by returning ahead of schedule to International action.

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Flintoff's typically aggressive 21 not out helped England seal a seven-wicket win against the West Indies in Thursday's day/night One-Day International at Headingley.

But England's first win of the NatWest Series came after officials last month said Flintoff, also a lively pace bowler, would miss the whole of the triangular event with an ankle injury revealed during the third Test win against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

However, the 26-year-old's comeback, albeit as a batsman only, came as no surprise to him.

"I've trained with my physio Dave Roberts and yesterday (Wednesday) I went hill-running in Bolton.

"We decided I can't bowl but otherwise, with the running we did, there's nothing on a cricket field that would be more strenuous than what we did," Flintoff told reporters after his Headingley innings.

Back in 2002, he played on against India while carrying a groin injury, admist indecision over when he should have an operation, and missed the whole of the subsequent Ashes tour of Australia.

However, the 6ft 4" Lancashire star said: "The groin problem was always something that needed operating on but this doesn't."

In his recent absence England suffered two batting collapses that saw them bowled out for 147 and 101 during seven-wicket defeats by the West Indies and New Zealand respectively that had left Michael Vaughan's men struggling to qualify for the July 10 triangular final at Lord's.

England's middle-order, without Flintoff, was labelled a "soft underbelly" by New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns.

But Flintoff, asked if he had been invited to return early by a panic-stricken management, replied "no, not at all," insisting he was the one who'd picked up the phone.

His 18-ball innings, which featured one pulled six off Ravi Rampaul, showed briefly how Flintoff's supremely powerful but correct hitting, now allied to increasingly good judgement, had been missed.

And when the Yorkshire fans cheered a man who plays for their arch-rivals as if he were one of their own it was proof of how Flintoff had become the most popular English player of his generation.

However England, according to Vaughan, still miss his bowling.

Flintoff was the most economical bowler at last year's World Cup, a trait that has proved useful in the Test arena too where he also takes wickets.

On Thursday his inclusion and that of Robert Key as specialist batsmen left England with just three front-line bowlers, a high risk tactic which although it worked against the West Indies still left Vaughan feeling "fortunate".

And Flintoff, whose selection usually helps balance England sides in both forms of cricket, admitted: "I would have loved to have had a bowl. I love being in the game and trying to make a contribution."

England have two more series matches, against New Zealand in Bristol on Sunday and the West Indies at Lord's on Tuesday, before the final and Flintoff said two more wins should see them in next Saturday's showpiece.

But he remained cautious over whether he would bowl against the West Indies come the first Test at Lord's on July 22, which was one of the key reasons why he was ruled out of the triangular event in the first place.

"In two weeks' time hopefully I will be able to bowl." But while there is always hope in English cricket there are not many Flintoffs.