Andrew Flintoff soon rediscovered his magic touch with the ball at The Oval today after being kept waiting by the weather for more than two hours.

Flintoff, back in action following a fourth operation on his left ankle, struck for Lancashire with his 20th delivery by having Surrey left-hander Scott Newman caught for 34 on the opening afternoon of the county championship season.

In truth, the ball did not deserve a wicket. Short and off target, Newman succeeded only in pulling it to fine leg where Oliver Newby held a good catch.

Fortunate or not, Flintoff celebrated with a beaming smile. He has not played Test cricket for 15 months and his last appearance of any kind - apart from a pre-season tour of Abu Dhabi - was as a limping passenger during last September's Twenty20 World Cup.

Today, coming on as second change after a saturated outfield had delayed play until 1.10pm, the all-rounder who hopes for an England comeback next month looked comfortable on his ankle and worked up a decent pace while bowling five overs for nine runs.

With Newby having just pinned Jon Batty (22), Surrey lost both openers with the total 56. But they then had a real let off when keeper Luke Sutton dropped a routine chance after master batsman Mark Ramprakash had edged Newby.