Flintoff Suffers More Batting Woe As He Eyes Ashes Comeback

Andrew Flintoff suffered another batting failure for Lancashire today as the clock ticks down to the start of the Ashes.

After a double flop in his first appearance of the season at Durham last week, Flintoff was promoted to No3 in the game against Hampshire in Liverpool, and came to the crease in the 11th over.

He survived his first two balls from his former Lancashire team-mate Dominic Cork, nudged his third from the England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas through the leg-side for two, and collected a first boundary with another leg-side push through mid wicket.

Flintoff then advanced down the pitch to launch his 14th ball from Mascarenhas for a straight six over the sight screen and into the steps of the Aigburth pavilion.

But Mascarenhas bowled the next delivery slightly shorter as Flintoff tried to use his feet again, and succeeded only in steering it to third slip where Chris Benham pouched a straightforward catch.

Flintoff's 12 from 15 balls in 18 minutes gives him 15 from three innings this season, with only a few more chances to bat before the first Test against Australia in Cardiff on July 8.