Flintoff must go straight back into Test team, says Trescothick

Trescothick, who made 77 in the first innings of Somerset's rain-affected Championship match against Flintoff's Lancashire at Old Trafford, had a second close look at the 6ft 5in paceman yesterday.

And what he saw confirmed his opinion that England must pick Flintoff to play from the start of the three-Test series against the Kiwis, which starts at Lord's on May 15.

As well as a lively spell against Trescothick himself, Flintoff later caused former Australia Test star Justin Langer extreme discomfort, touching speeds of 90mph. First, he hit him on the left forearm and later repeated the dose with a ball that whacked into his chest, both deliveries flying from short of a good length.

Afterwards Langer paid Flintoff a glowing tribute. He said: 'That spell was as good as anything I've faced from him in Test cricket.'

Flintoff finished with the encouraging match figures of 24 overs, eight maidens and two wickets for 53 runs. And, importantly, his ankle suffered no reaction to the demanding workout.

For those who recall what Flintoff did to the Australians three summers ago, it was vintage stuff. 'To me, whoever else England pick for Lord's, Fred has to play,' said Trescothick. 'We all know that, at his best, Fred is not just one of the best bowlers in England, but one of the top three or four in the world. And from what I've seen here he's back to his very best.

'Batting against him in both innings, I saw no difference between how he bowled here and his performances against Australia in 2005. His pace is up there, he hit the bat hard and he was at you all the time. As long as he stays fit, I wouldn't have any hesitation in picking him for the first Test. And if England contact me in the next few days for my assessment, that's what I'll tell them.'

Trescothick's support for Flintoff as a front-line bowler could not be more timely. With England planning to pick six specialist batsmen, the unanswered question regarding Flintoff's form with the bat makes it highly unlikely that they will consider playing him as an all-rounder occupying one of those top six slots.

Since making the first tentative steps on the comeback trail following the fourth operation on his troublesome left ankle last year, it appears that Flintoff has built up to full bowling fitness but his batting opportunities have been limited.

He made 51 against Yorkshire in the pre-season tournament in Dubai, 23 against Surrey last week and a golden duck in his only innings against Somerset at Old Trafford. With four Friends Provident Trophy matches (two against Scotland, one of which is today at the Citylets Grange, Edinburgh) and one Championship match against Durham remaining before the squad for the first Test is announced, Flintoff needs time in the middle, although his county coach Mike Watkinson said: 'The way he bowled against Langer and Trescothick, he'd be the first name down in any side I picked just as a bowler.'

So his selection for England at Lord's would have to be on the basis of him batting at No 7 and taking his full part in a four-man bowling attack.

Not only would that raise the risk of putting too much pressure on Flintoff's ankle — as he admits: 'I won't really know if the ankle will stand up until I fully test it' — it would also mean dropping one of the quartet who earned England's comeback win in New Zealand.

Each of those four — Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar — has a strong case to be retained. Sidebottom has become indispensable since returning to international cricket 12 months ago after a six-year absence.

Anderson was nominated England's man-of-the-series against India last summer, Broad has done enough with bat and ball to show his potential and Panesar offers England's only spin option.

Trescothick is adamant, however. 'There is no better bowler in England than Fred,' he said. 'He's got to play.'