I might not be at my best but I'm ready to return to Test cricket, insists Flintoff

The 30-year-old has been included in Peter Moores' 12-man squad for the second Test against South Africa which begins at Headingley on Friday following 18 months out of the England side due to a succession of injuries.

The Lancashire all-rounder is expected to be pitched straight back into battle, possibly at the expense of Paul Collingwood, at the home of fierce county rivals Yorkshire.

Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff admits the reception for Red Rose players in Leeds is similar to that received by Manchester United when they faced Galatasaray in Istanbul in 1993 - when banners displayed the message 'Welcome to Hell' - but he is simply happy to be back in the Test arena.

'As and when I do come on to bowl, I'm sure there might be a little bit of excitement here at Headingley - the Lancashire players refer to it fondly as Galatasaray, but I think in an England shirt it's a different game,' he said.

'Hopefully the crowd will get behind not just me, but the rest of the team.'

Flintoff insists he has played enough cricket in the county game since recovering from injury to make an impact for England.

'Before the first Test I'd not played a great deal of cricket what with the side strain - I'd just had one game against Sussex.

'I got another Championship game against Hampshire last week where I bowled a lot of overs, got some miles in my legs, and I'm hitting them pretty nicely as well - a couple of runs in the Twenty20 and the second innings down at Hampshire.

'I'm in a good place at the moment and ready to go into Test match cricket.'

He added: 'I don't think I'm at my best but I'm going in the right direction and showing signs of that. "As for the fitness, I've got no worries.'

Flintoff, a key member of the 2005 Ashes-winning side, is adamant that far from seeking a return to previous heights, he can eventually be a better player than ever before.

'Definitely as a bowler, I've always improved the more I bowl and have a better understanding of it as well,' he said.

'With the bat as well, you see batsmen peak in their early thirties and that's what I'm looking to do as well.

'I've done all right in the past and I think I can do better.'