Flintoff sees blessing in disguise

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Flintoff came in for criticism for not resting up after the winter tour of West Indies ahead of a gruelling international summer. He instead chose to play for the Chennai Super Kings in the lucrative IPL and had to return home early to have surgery to repair a minor cartilage tear.

He told Press Association Sport: "The knee injury was a new one. I've never had any problems with my knees. It was like a degenerative problem so it was building up."

But Flintoff believes that has proved to be a blessing in disguise as he prepares for the opening Test against Australia at Cardiff starting on Wednesday.

He added: "I knew it was untimely when it came to light when involved with the Indian Premier League - but I'm pleased in a lot of ways that it did.

"Otherwise, if it had been another two or three weeks before that happened, then I'd have been struggling for this Ashes series."

Flintoff has been driven on by the goal of being ready for the Ashes during his rehabilitation and playing comeback with Lancashire.

He played in two LV County Championship and two Twenty20 Cup games plus England's friendly with Warwickshire to ensure he is fit and ready.

He said: "The Ashes is in the back of your mind. When I was in the gym and trying to get back to fitness, it was all about playing in the Ashes.

"The reason you do all the rehab is to put back on that England shirt, to get the chance to play in an Ashes series."