Andrew Flintoff Gives England a Boost By Returning to County Action

Andrew Flintoff has given all England supporters a boost this morning by returning to Old Trafford for the resumption of Lancashire's county championship match against Somerset.

There had been some fears that yesterday's workout, during which he bowled six overs in two sessions, might have brought a reaction that would delay his comeback before the Ashes. But, 30 days before the first Test at Cardiff, the all-rounder was in the middle 90 minutes before the start of play, bowling and exercising for the best part of 40 minutes. .

Flintoff took part in a warm-up supervised by Lancashire physio David Roberts who broke the session into pods of around six balls with intervals for work on the knee that has caused the all-rounder to miss close on six weeks of cricket, including the Test series and one-day series against the West Indies.

Flintoff reckons he will be ready for Cardiff on 8 July and hopes to play possibly two championship matches with Lancashire before joining up with England. The first is likely to be the game against Hampshire in Liverpool in eight days.