Fired-up Flintoff finds his magic touch again

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Flintoff, back in action following a fourth operation on his left ankle, struck for Lancashire with his 20th delivery by having Surrey left-hander Scott Newman caught for 34 on the opening afternoon of the county championship season.

In truth, the ball did not deserve a wicket. Short and off target, Newman succeeded only in pulling it to fine leg where Oliver Newby held a good catch.

Fortunate or not, Flintoff celebrated with a beaming smile. He has not played Test cricket for 15 months and his last appearance of any kind - apart from a pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi - was as a limping passenger during last September's Twenty20 World Cup.

Today, coming on as second change after a saturated outfield had delayed play until 1.10pm, the all-rounder who hopes for an England comeback next month looked comfortable on his ankle and worked up a decent pace while bowling five overs for nine runs.

With Newby having just pinned Jon Batty (22), Surrey lost both openers with the total 56. But they then had a real let off when keeper Luke Sutton dropped a routine chance after master batsman Mark Ramprakash had edged Newby.