Flintoff firing with the ball as he closes in on England return

The all-rounder is unlikely to be entrusted with the No 6 spot after another batting first-ball failure for Lancashire on a sun-drenched day of drama in the County Championship.

And while he produced another fast bowling masterclass with four wickets against Durham, his exploits were overshadowed by some sensational individual performances around the country.

Several players in contention to face New Zealand at Lord's next week hit their stride, with Kevin Pietersen scoring a century for Hampshire, Andrew Strauss making 88 for Middlesex, James Anderson also taking four wickets at Old Trafford and Ryan Sidebottom shredding the Kent top order at Trent Bridge.

However, this was also a welcome day in the spotlight for some of the unsung members of the county set. Durham bowled out Lancashire for 143 thanks to a career-best return of seven for 33 by Mark Davies, whose first-class career has been hampered by a succession of serious injuries.

Somerset's fate was sealed at Taunton by the relatively unknown James Tomlinson, who produced remarkable figures of eight for 46 in the absence of Hampshire's leading seamers, Shane Bond and Chris Tremlett, as the home side were dismissed for 126.

For now, though, the likes of Davies and Tomlinson are still some way short of earning international honours, such is the embarrassment of bowling riches at England's disposal.

The tussle for places in what is likely to be a four-man attack against New Zealand at Lord's next week is proving to be the sideshow of the early summer, with several contenders pushing their claims.

Both England captain Michael Vaughan and coach Peter Moores have suggested the latest selection plan will summon Flintoff as a fast bowler who bats at No 7. The 30-year-old all-rounder inadvertently added weight to their new strategy against Durham yesterday when he fell for a second golden duck in a fortnight — caught at slip off Davies — to leave him with just 173 runs in his nine innings.

Despite tireless work, Flintoff is struggling to rediscover any batting fluency or authority.

This latest setback came the day after a court appearance in Liverpool on a speeding charge, which was dropped on a technicality. It was a case of being let off one day and caught cold the next.

Luckily, his stronger suit was on show later in the day as he again bowled with pace and menace on another bouncy Old Trafford pitch. He had Kyle Coetzer caught fending off a brute of a lifter, which was pouched by Mal Loye running in from second slip.

Before returning for a second spell in the evening, he received treatment on his troublesome left ankle, but it turned out he was merely having a plaster applied to a blister.

As proof he was pain free, Flintoff removed the Harmison brothers in quick succession. Ben was comprehensively bowled before Steve obliged his best friend by pulling a short ball to wicketkeeper Luke Sutton.

The bowler then wrapped up the Durham innings for 114 when he castled Mitchell Claydon for 40 to finish with four for 21.

Yet, while Flintoff was showing he has reclaimed his status as one of the country's premier seamers, Anderson made it clear that he would not be standing aside to accommodate his Lancashire colleague's international return.

The 25-year-old knows he may have to see off both Matthew Hoggard and Stuart Broad to keep his Test place and he responded in stirring fashion. A supreme 11-over spell dragged the Red Rose county back into the contest after slumping to 143 all out, and he claimed four for 31.

Having been last man out without scoring, Anderson set about turning the tables and it did not take him long to do so.

Bowling fast and causing havoc with full-pitched swinging deliveries, he bowled Mark Stoneman, who offered no stroke and lost his off stump.

Michael Di Venuto followed to an almost identical delivery, but he was trapped leg before shouldering arms, beaten by the late movement.

Once Flintoff had taken care of Coetzer, Anderson struck again to dismiss England teammate Paul Collingwood, who cut hard towards point, where Mark Chilton took a good catch.

Garry Park then survived a strong caught-behind appeal which earned him a verbal volley from the bowler, before Phil Mustard gloved an off-stump delivery to Sutton.