Flintoff hopes for Lords return - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Flintoff hopes for Lords return

Andrew Flintoff has his sights on the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's after coming through the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge.

Flintoff, 30, concluded Lancashire's involvement pre-season tournament with a half-century in the 41-run defeat to Yorkshire and took his tally of overs to nine in two games with figures of 4-0-22-1.

"I would love to play a Test match at Lord's, but the one thing that I am not going to do is get carried away," Flintoff said.

"I know that if I want to play for England, then I have got to be fit. I won't be able to just walk back into that side.

"I have got to focus all my energies on playing for Lancashire. If I can stay fit and perform, then I would hopefully be in the shake up on May 15."

Flintoff, who underwent a fourth operation on his left ankle last October, found rhythm and avoided pain in his bowling ventures in the Pro ARCH event.

"The ankle is fine," he added. "It wasn't too taxing, and I am happy with the way things are - how the ankle is standing up to the rigours of bowling.

"Everybody tells me I am at 70%, but I don't know - I might be at 72. I am certainly not hitting the crease as hard as I would like, but it feels good and easy.

"I was always confident that once I was fit that my bowling would be fine. It is still early days, and I am not going to get carried away.

"At this moment I am happy with it - I just hope it continues in that way."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking