Moores Raises Doubts About Flintoff Return

The England coach, Peter Moores, has cast doubt on an immediate return to international cricket for Andrew Flintoff when the selectors name their squad on Thursday for next week's first Test against South Africa at Lord's.

"It's great that Andrew is back on the park and bowling well," he said. "But we're also sensible about it, because we know you've got to be bowling fit and match fit rather than just getting the injury right, and that's common sense. We've got to be sure we don't put Andrew Flintoff in jeopardy if we don't think he's bowling fit."

Flintoff's last Test was in Sydney in January last year and he has not played for England at all since the World Twenty20 in South Africa last September. A month later he underwent a fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle but then picked up a side strain playing for Lancashire in May. He sent down only six overs in five Twenty20 matches recently before returning to first-class action in Hove yesterday, when he bowled 15 wicketless overs, conceding 43 runs, against Sussex.

But despite the clamor to ease Flintoff into an England side who will need all the firepower they can muster to compete with South Africa, the selectors may err on the side of caution after rushing their prize asset back too quickly in the past. "We've given him plenty of time with this latest injury and that's right because he's worked so hard to get himself back on the park," said Moores.