Donald Warns Flintoff Must Modify Action to Avoid Injury

Andrew Flintoff has been warned that he faces the prospect of further injuries unless he modifies his action. That warning comes from no less an authority than England's bowling coach, Allan Donald, who climbed Edgbaston's scaffolding to watch the all-rounder bowl for Lancashire in the Twenty20 finals on Saturday.

Flintoff's name will figure prominently in the England squads for the NatWest Series against India later this summer and the World Twenty20 in South Africa next month but the man who has undergone three ankle operations and seen his international career interrupted by one injury after another could soon be in more trouble, despite his specially designed new bowling boots.

Donald, perhaps South Africa's greatest fast bowler with 330 wickets in 72 Tests, says: "I went down to the ground specifically to have a look at Freddie. I sat on the scaffolding with my binoculars to have a look at him bowling. He talked to me during the Old Trafford Test when he was still on crutches and asked whether we needed to work on getting his front foot straight. It's a major issue that could creep up again in the future.

"His front foot [his left, on landing] points inwards and then he twists over it and it turns straight as he goes over the top. Therefore there is counterthrusting, where bone and muscle are working against each other, so it could be a long-term worry. It is not something that I am going to start working on modifying. It would have to be done in the close season. It is up to Freddie to decide. On Saturday he hadn't changed his action.

"At the moment he is bursting at his seams, happy to be playing again. The selectors and Peter Moores are delighted to have him back bowling and he will make a massive difference in the one-dayers."

The concern with Flintoff, England's best bowler for over two years, is the sheer physical nature of his action. He is not - unlike Donald - a natural athlete. His considerable pace is generated by his immense physical strength, his total commitment and spirit, which have combined to make him England's most popular cricketer since Ian Botham. Bowling within himself comes as naturally as teetotalism.

His action and workloads will become serious issues in the Test series in Sri Lanka and New Zealand this winter. Ideally he would be part of a five-man bowling attack. But in Sri Lanka, where England will do well to avoid defeat, there will be a temptation to play him as one of four bowlers, with the high risk of overworking him once again.

At the same time on Saturday a diamond emerged from Kimberley, South Africa, who might aspire to replace Flintoff as England's next all-rounder. Ryan McLaren, 24, on a one-year contract with Kent as a Kolpak player, was man of the match with a hat-trick as Kent beat Gloucestershire to win the Twenty20 final. But, as he celebrated with team-mates on Saturday night, his mind must have been in turmoil. For Kent have offered him a new three-year contract, which would mean him turning his back on the chance of playing for South Africa. If he stays with Kent he would have to fulfill his international ambitions with England, but only after four years' residency.

"He is a special player who has a big decision to make," said Donald, who coached him in South Africa and, two years ago, at Warwickshire IIs. Robert Key, the Kent captain, said: "Ryan is a serious athlete. Kent are desperate for him to stay."

McLaren said yesterday: "I've got to make my decision in the next couple of weeks. I don't have a gut feeling. I've got to decide what is best for my career."

Freddie's footwork under the spotlight

Allan Donald has called into question Andrew Flintoff's bowling action after analysing the England and Lancashire all-rounder's run-up with the help of Edgbaston's scaffolding and a pair of binoculars

1 Pace and powerNot being a natural athlete he generates his pace by his sheer physical strength and determination

2 Wrong footedOn arrival at the crease his front foot lands
heavily and points inwards

3 Twist and straight As the ball is released he twists his body over his front foot causing it to straighten

4 The delivery As the ball is bowled bone and muscle are
working against each other causing friction and the chance of a long-term injury