Flintoff May Be Back for the First Test, Says England Captain

England's captain, Michael Vaughan, gave Andrew Flintoff the perfect fillip ahead of the County Championship season, which begins today, by proclaiming that he could return for the first Test at Lord's next month if he proves his fitness.

Flintoff plays for Lancashire at Surrey today knowing that his ambition to be back in the Test side against New Zealand has encouraged fears that he may be asking too much of his repeatedly spring-cleaned ankle. But Vaughan, who also knows the fears of a career-threatening injury - in his case a knee - encouraged his talismanic all-rounder yesterday to ignore those counseling caution. "What is important is that he listens to his body," he said. "I hope he comes through Lancashire's early games with overs under his belt and runs behind his name. If he does, then he gives himself a good chance of selection.

"We want Freddie back and in good form. We want him right. An England side with Freddie in is a better side. If he misses the first two Tests and is ready for the third, then that will do me. But he is the only one who knows how his ankle feels. He hasn't bowled 18-20 overs in a day yet. Hopefully he will get through that before long."

Vaughan envisages three England fast bowlers jostling for a Lord's comeback. He was involved in the dropping of Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison in New Zealand, a decision that led to England recovering from 1-0 down to take the series 2-1. Hoggard, a Yorkshire team-mate, and Harmison have the chance to impress him at close quarters on Sunday when Yorkshire meet Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy at Chester-le-Street.

Vaughan, who wants to bat at No3 at Lord's, with Andrew Strauss reverting to opener, called on the ECB to regard the Indian Premier League "not as a threat, but an opportunity. We are all naive if we think that England players won't play in the IPL because they are going to, whether it's next year or the year after."

But IS Bindra, a member of the IPL's governing council, said yesterday that it "will not allow any player to revolt against their establishment. We don't want to be a rebel league."

Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, will meet IPL officials in India this week. It is not his only option as England will also be offered the chance to play a multi-million pound 20/20 challenge match by Sir Allen Stanford during next year's West Indies tour. Talks were held with the Houston billionaire in London yesterday and were later described as "very positive and constructive". The ECB also appeared to leave the door open to their players taking part in the IPL from 2010. "[The ECB] has never stated that centrally contracted players are banned from the IPL," a statement read. "It should be noted that in 2008 and 2009 the Test series clashes with the scheduled dates of the Indian Premier League but future schedules of the IPL from 2010 onwards are yet to be released."