Cricket: Flintoff Plans to Hit 90mph

Andrew Flintoff's apparent inability to shake off past indiscretions might have made him doubly determined to forge a better future. Less than a week after undergoing a third operation on his left ankle the Lancashire all-rounder yesterday outlined his plans to bowl at 90mph before the end of the summer, adding that his best years as a fast bowler still lay ahead of him.

"I had the operation last Friday and everyone connected with it says it's a complete success," Flintoff said. "I've come out of it very confident about my recovery. I've got rehab in front of me but I've done it before and I know what's ahead of me. I'm hoping to play a part in the India series at some stage."

The third and final Test match of the series against India begins at The Oval on August 9, which is probably too soon for Flintoff. But with the last of seven one-day internationals scheduled for September 8 there is every chance the Lancastrian will be pounding in for England before the summer is out.

"I will take anything, to be honest," the all-rounder said. "In a few more days I will have a better idea of when I'll be back. The two previous operations were on the back of the ankle and that's absolutely perfect now and I'm confident the front of the ankle will be perfect after this. I'm not lying awake at night worrying about it.

"The way I play and the way I bowl, I've got to be 100% fit. I'd been feeling it for a few weeks and I could have carried on operating at 75 or 80% capacity but I want to get back bowling at 90mph, so this needed to be done."

Flintoff yesterday put a brave face on the comments made by the England captain, Michael Vaughan, about the effect his flirtation with a St Lucian pedalo had on team morale during the World Cup, and he will need to show similar fortitude if he is to re-emerge from a third spell of rehabilitation as the same bowler who drew rave reviews from the Australians in 2005. Spending the next 10 days on crutches after five days of watching television at home will test his restlessness to the full but he sounded full of optimism.

"In some ways I feel I'm a novice as a bowler. I didn't start bowling properly until I was 24 or 25, so I hope there are a few years left bowling fast."