Freddie ready to reach his peak

All-rounder Flintoff, 30, is expected to win his 68th Test cap in the second match of the npower series against South Africa at Headingley, starting on Friday.

"I still feel the best years are ahead of me - I didn't start bowling properly until I was probably 24 or 25," said Flintoff, who needs three wickets to reach the 200-mark in Tests. "So on that front I am pretty new to it all and I feel I have got a better grasp of things. I have got a bit more pace but I also feel I've got a bit of craft with it as well."

He continued: "With the bat, I didn't start the season too well, but over the last few weeks I feel I have been taking strides to get back to playing well.

"You see batsmen in their early 30s reach their peak, so hopefully for me it is just around the corner."

Although Flintoff's appearance has yet to be rubber-stamped, captain Michael Vaughan recently confirmed he would be recalled at the earliest opportunity despite England setting a new Test record of fielding the same side for six consecutive matches.

There has also been some conjecture as to where Flintoff will slot back into the XI after such an extended absence, with Vaughan stating on more than one occasion this summer that his preference would be at number seven, as part of a four-man attack.

England toiled in the field for the final three days of the drawn Lord's Test and so resting one of the bowling unit - Ryan Sidebottom has been troubled by a back niggle - is an option.

If England do go down the more attacking route, however, Paul Collingwood is likely to make way at number six.

That choice will come down to national selector Geoff Miller in consultation with coach Peter Moores and Vaughan.