Second string Flintoff back in the middle and living life on the edge

While Flintoff did take the field in Alderley Edge on the first day of a second XI fixture with Durham, he was restricted to a couple of bits of fielding and plenty of arm-folding at second slip as Lancashire were held up by some late order hitting.

In as a batsman: But Andrew Flintoff might get a bowl

It was a disappointment to the locals, who turned up in larger than usual numbers in a town used to star names given the number of Premier League footballers who live nearby.

And they will hope forecasters' predictions of a wet day to follow prove to be wide of the mark as Flintoff looks to make his first runs since May 2 after recovering from a side strain.

Three ducks on the trot, two of which came in the County Championship against Durham when Flintoff suffered the latest in a series of injuries that have seen him make six previous comebacks with varying degrees of success, provide the backdrop to the all-rounder's innings tomorrow.

As he is seemingly restricted to a batting brief only, Flintoff will be determined to make his mark and ensure his fitness for another second team game at Liverpool, followed by a first XI fixture with Sussex at Hove, and then, possibly, a return to the international stage.

However, David Lloyd, the Lancashire stalwart, who called in briefly ahead of his Sky TV commitments at nearby Old Trafford, provided a note of caution as the prodigal son embarks on what he hopes will be a successful return.

"He has to be patient and not rush it," said Lloyd.

"There is bound to be a clamour to get him back for England but he has the right people around him to make sure he takes his time."

Such was the ferocity with which Flintoff was bowling before the side strain, which was at least a merciful change from the ankle problems that have required four operations since that momentous Ashes series three summers ago, the chances are he would have been picked purely as a bowler for the series against New Zealand.

And Lloyd has no doubt it will be the batting form Flintoff finds harder to regain as his quest for runs begins.

"Freddie will be frustrated and a bit angry," he said.

"He spent so long coming back from his ankle operations and a side strain really is the worst injury for a bowler.

"The bowling takes care of itself. He was bowling superbly before his injury. He was looking fit and he was really firing.

"It is the batting he will need to work on. He needs to get some form and it doesn't come easily.

"After such a long time out he has to get in, hang in and get a couple of decent scores under his belt."

Lloyd has no fears about Flintoff's overall fitness.

He saw enough of the 30-year-old prior to his latest setback to feel confident that his ankle will stand the strain of regular international combat.

But he does recognise the slow, slow, quick nature of cricket, in evidence today, and the unique demands it places on players.

"Cricket is a strange game in that you can be standing around for six hours and then suddenly you will have to do something explosive and your body needs to react," said Lloyd.

"Sportsmen get injured, it goes with the territory.

"The good news is Freddy is back doing what he does best.

"I am sure England will beat South Africa whether Freddy is there or not but it would be better if he was. He just needs to find some form."

If Flintoff was relatively inactive, Glen Chapple, also on the comeback trail after a thigh problem, did at least take one wicket from his four overs, although, like his team-mate, it is with a bat that he is really hoping to make an impact.