Flintoff set for England one-day squad recall

The 29-year-old all-rounder has not been seen in an England shirt since this winter's ill-fated World Cup campaign, after which he suffered a recurrence of his left ankle problems and was forced to undergo another operation.

He has only just returned to action for Lancashire, featuring in last week's championship defeat to leaders Sussex and the Twenty20 semi-final loss to Gloucestershire, bowling 11 overs in the two matches, and plans to play a full part in this week's Roses match at Headingley.

But such is his importance to England's side the selectors will have no hesitation in naming him in their squad for the ICC World Twenty20 and the seven-match NatWest Series against India, which begins at the Rose Bowl on August 21, to be announced by chairman of selectors David Graveney tomorrow.

"As far as we're concerned Freddie is fit and eligible for both squads," confirmed Graveney.

"All the reports we have received are that he is making good progress and he should be able to take part. The medical experts seem very pleased with him and we will be guided by their advice.

"Quite rightly we are being cautious because we have been down this road before with him and it's important we don't rush him back because we want him part of the England squad for some time to come.

"He has had a very important week with the championship match against Sussex at Liverpool, the Twenty20 finals day and has the Roses match at Headingley next week - he will not get much tougher cricket than that.

"Freddie wants to do well for Lancashire and help his county and hopefully those games will also give him the necessary overs he needs to get under his belt."

Flintoff's absence from both Test and one-day sides this year has caused the selectors a problem in deciding whether to add an extra batsman or bowler to their line-up without the natural balance the Lancastrian provides.

But as they turn their thoughts to the one-day part of their winter, which begin with the ICC World Twenty20 championships which follow almost immediately on from the one-day series against India, Graveney is delighted to have their influential all-rounder available again for selection.

"Freddie is crucial for both teams because he balances the side so well," conceded Graveney. "When he isn't around we have to either weaken the batting side of the team or the bowling - as Rahul Dravid was quick to point out in the previous Test, it's not as easy without Freddie!"

England bowling coach Allan Donald has admitted he has concerns about the manner in which Flintoff lands his ankle in his delivery stride, which tends to twist as he bowls, but admits it would be "very difficult" to alter his style at this stage of his career.

Flintoff, though, remains happy with his progress and admitted: "I'm probably a little bit ahead of schedule from where I was. I've worked hard with (Lancashire physio) Dave Roberts and bowled against Sussex and it felt good.

"I ran in and I feel as though there is more in the tank and I can take it up a couple of gears but it came out nicely and felt easy - I'm not fully there but I'm pleased with where I'm at."

While Flintoff's inclusion will be a welcome boost to England's hopes of being competitive both against India and in South Africa for the World Twenty20, the rest of the squad remains a difficult problem to solve.

Unlike the two Twenty20 matches against West Indies earlier this season, when England fielded only two players regarded as specialists - Dimitri Mascarenhas and Jonathan Trott - England are expected to name several players with specific expertise in this format of the game.

South African-born Trott is unlikely to make the cut after scoring only 11 runs in his two outings while other specialists named in the provisional 30 are also expected to miss out like Sussex all-rounder Luke Wright, Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan, Lancashire's Glen Chapple and Essex's Mark Pettini.

There will, however, be room for the return of Essex's Ravi Bopara following his energetic World Cup displays while Hampshire's Dimitri Mascarenhas is expected to earn a place alongside Warwickshire all-rounder Darren Maddy, the leading run-scorer in domestic Twenty20 Cup history.

"I think there'll be some surprises," confirmed Graveney. "We played two Twenty20 games against West Indies and learned something from that. In our squad for the ICC World Twenty20 it will contain some players that are perceived to be Twenty20 specialists."