Flintoff's Appetiser Before Feast From Bangalore

They came off the field at 3.13pm yesterday and did not return. They said it was for bad light but it felt as if it was in deference to the IPL extravaganza in India, which was about to get under way. Cold, damp, gloomy and monochrome, The Oval just could not compete with the vivid colors on show in Bangalore.

Andrew Flintoff, though, seemed determined to show the new competition what it was missing and to put down a marker for next year's event. He scored 23 from 23 deliveries, striking four fours and three in as many balls from Chris Jordan, the distinctly sharp bowler from Barbados.

One reason why many hope the England selectors will leave Flintoff well alone this summer, or at least until South Africa come over, is so he can get plenty of batting with Lancashire. He has it in him to be a proper batsman, but when short of cricket there is a stiffness and ungainliness which suggest he is batting in iron gloves.

Lancashire had resumed on 63 for one and Surrey bowled well in unpromising conditions. Jimmy Ormond, who has lost two stone, bowled well and soon had Gary Keedy, the night watchman, dropped at slip by Mark Butcher. But then the bowler produced an even better delivery which lifted sharply off a length and caught the shoulder of Paul Horton's bat.

Lancashire were 115 for three when Keedy had his off-stump flattened by one well pitched up by Jordan, who looks strong and fast for one who is only 19.

Lancashire soon lost their third wicket of the day when Mal Loye was run out. Brad Hodge pushed the ball into the covers and set off for his single but the substitute fielder Chris Schofield ran round from point and threw down the stumps.

Butcher suffered a bizarre injury at slip when the wicketkeeper Jon Batty threw off a glove and contrived to hit his captain's left eye. A few of the Surrey players were trying to suppress giggles as a miffed looking Butcher went into the covers.

At lunch, Surrey were 152 for four. After the interval Stuart Law and Brad Hodge looked comfortable but when Law had made 38 he drove at one that appeared to stop on him and Mark Ramprakash took a fine, diving catch at mid-off. Then we had Flintoff's flurry before he was undone by Saqlain Mushtaq's doosra and then everyone could settle down in front of the TV.