Flintoff Ready to Go

Andrew Flintoff will underline his determination to win back his England place this summer by playing for Lancashire in a pre-season match against Yorkshire at Old Trafford today, little more than 24 hours after the birth of his third child.

Flintoff turned up at the ground yesterday morning to tell club officials he was too tired to play in the one-day friendly against Yorkshire after his wife Rachael gave birth to their second son in the early hours of the morning. But he insisted he still wanted to play in the two-day game starting today to complete preparations for his return to first-class cricket - against Surrey in the championship at the Oval next Wednesday - after his fourth ankle operation in three years.

Flintoff watchers could point to a good omen for such personal sacrifice - before his starring role in England's Ashes triumph in 2005, he had postponed his honeymoon to avoid any delay to the recovery from his first ankle operation.