May 17, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429

LONDON, May 16: Andrew Flintoff’s long-awaited Test return might not be possible before the visit of South Africa later this summer, after his county official suggested the burly player would not be fit enough to return to county cricket ahead of the third Test against New Zealand next month.

The England all-rounder Flintoff, who hasn’t played in a Test for England since the Ashes tour to Australia in January last year, had been pencilled in for a recall at Lord’s this week, after bowling with great pace and accuracy during his comeback for Lancashire this season.

He had dismissed the effects of a fourth bout of ankle surgery, but then sustained a side strain while playing against Durham that ruled him out of the first two Tests of the summer.

For the third Test against New Zealand, starting on June 5, Flintoff would have to line up for Lancashire against their arch-rivals Yorkshire, during their Championship clash at Headingley on May 28.

However, Mike Watkinson, Lancashire cricket manager, said: “I don’t think he’ll be back for the Roses match.”

Watkinson doesn’t see Flintoff playing a four-day game until their home clash against Nottinghamshire on June 6, which also happens to be the last full-length game before the start of the Twenty20 Cup later that month.

That being the case, England might be forced to wait a while longer before allowing Flintoff to resume his 67-Test career.

Watkinson, however, believes that caution is most importance, and said that Lancashire’s quick response to his side strain had given Flintoff the best possible chance of coming back to complete fitness.

“We nipped what could have been a serious injury in the bud,” he stated.

“By acting so quickly, two or three weeks’ rest should be enough to cure it. Maybe Freddie will be back against Notts, but it is early days. He is taking it easy this week. He needs resting and reassessing.”—Agencies