Flintoff Would Answer England's Problems at No11, Jokes Law

Andrew Flintoff is bowling well enough to justify his inclusion in England's first Test team even if his run of ducks continues, according to Lancashire's captain, Stuart Law. "Bat him at 11 - maybe that's the kick up the backside he needs," Law joked after the formidable combination of Flintoff and James Anderson had fired Lancashire to their first championship win of the season 20 minutes before lunch on the third day.

"I'm only giving my opinion, but from what I've seen of Andrew Flintoff I'd hate to go into that first Test against New Zealand without him. He broke the back of both of their innings - even if he didn't necessarily take all the wickets, it was him that put the shits up them bowling at 90 or 95 miles an hour.

"That over he bowled to Paul Collingwood [on Thursday] was the best working over of a world-class batsman I've seen for a long time. Ricky Ponting or Brian Lara would have felt the heat against that. People say he's not scoring enough runs, but if you see him in the nets he's batting well. He's one shot away from being back."

Lancashire are braced to lose Flintoff and Anderson for next week's game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, although Law hopes the England selectors will allow Flintoff to play in tomorrow's Friends Provident Trophy game against Yorkshire at Old Trafford in a last attempt to discover some batting form for Lord's.

Flintoff was unable to add yesterday to the three wickets he had already taken in Durham's second innings, although he did have both Mark Davies and Michael Di Venuto dropped in a five-over spell before trotting off for a 20-minute breather.

That was nothing more sinister than a comfort break, according to Lancashire, and there was no respite for Durham as Anderson swung the ball both ways in humid conditions to take five of their last seven wickets for match figures of nine for 77. "It's hard to get the ball out of Jimmy's hand on a day like today," Law added. "Fred said to me in the slips after his first ball that he had good vibes for him, and that was proved right."

Durham's batting collapsed tamely for the second time in the match in the absence of Neil McKenzie and Dale Benkenstein, who had both been released for the match for personal reasons. Di Venuto resisted for 24 overs until he was run out by Mark Chilton's direct hit from cover after a mix-up with Phil Mustard.