Andrew Flintoff Says Ashes Recovery Plan is on Track

Andrew Flintoff has reiterated his belief that he will be fit to face Australia in the first Ashes Test next month, as he recovers from the knee surgery that ruled him out of the World Twenty20.

Asked if he would be ready for the opening Test in Cardiff, which starts on 8 July, Flintoff said: "Everyone's asking me that and I don't think not being fit's an option. I've had a lot of injuries over the past two, three years and the incentive to come back is to be involved in a series like the Ashes – so I'll be all right."

Flintoff needed surgery after a long-term problem with his right knee flared up while he was playing in the Indian Premier League. As a result he missed England's impressive start to the summer against West Indies and was ruled out of the World Twenty20, which starts today. Flintoff does not expect to be an automatic selection for the Ashes and hopes to prove his form at county level.

He said: "I'm on schedule with where I should be at the moment. I'm pleased with it – as pleased as I can be after having surgery. Lancashire have got three LV County Championship games this month and they've got a few Twenty20s.

"Obviously I'd like to play at least one of those championship games, get some overs under my belt, take some wickets, score some runs. The key thing for me is form. Hopefully I'll have enough games for Lancashire – there's an England warm-up game as well – to show that. But the way England have been playing lately you can't just walk into a team and I've got to show my merit, which I'm confident of doing. I just need a chance to.

Flintoff hopes that once he is able to play again he will remain fit for the rest of the summer and feature in all five Ashes Tests. "That's the plan and I'm confident of doing that," he said. "I think I'm due a little bit of luck as well. The one thing I want to do is get back playing cricket day in, day out – performing and doing the one thing I love.".