Flintoff likely to be back in action after long gap

Flintoff underwent an ankle surgery in September and has been out of action since then.

Star England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is likely to play his first competitive match in nearly five months for the visiting England Lions team against a Mumbai XI squad led by Amol Muzumdar in a practice tie at the Brabourne Stadium here on Tuesday.

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"He's available for selection. I can't say now whether he will play or not. We have a team meeting later. If he plays, it's upto the captain to decide whether he will play only as a batsman", team's media manager Mark Ward said today.

Flintoff underwent an ankle surgery in September and has been out of action since then.

The 30-year-old Lancashire cricketer has come to India for pre-season training but did not take part in the Duleep Trophy tournament with the England Lions team.

The Lions were knocked out of the tournament after failing to reach the final starting here tomorrow in which holders North Zone and hosts West Zone would be lining up against one another.

The Lions squad is to play three practice ties here during the week before departing home.