Ashes hope for Flintoff after early return
Four weeks before Ashes, Andrew Flintoff makes first class cricket return one week ahead of schedule
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Thursday, 11, Jun 2009 10:01
Andrew Flintoff's hopes of playing in this summer's Ashes have been given a massive boost after he made a return to first class cricket one week ahead of schedule.
The England all-rounder took a wicket on his return for Lancashire in their LV County Championship Division One match at Durham.
After undergoing knee surgery six weeks ago, the 31-year-old was a surprise pick by Peter Moores for the Chester-le-Street clash.
Flintoff, who injured himself while playing in the Indian Premier League in South Africa, had not been expected to make a full return until next week.
He is now in line to play a prominent role in this summer's Ashes, which begins on July 8th.
Lancashire physio Dave Roberts said the decision to play the all-rounder had been made in consultation with the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"Fred has been working extremely hard on his recovery and fitness and it has been carefully monitored by the England medical staff," he said.
"Dr Nick Pearce, the ECB's chief medical officer, and I have been working closely together and we felt that his knee had sufficiently recovered for him to return to action."
Roberts added: "The ECB medical team have been extremely supportive to me and Lancashire and now it's just a question of Fred getting in some time in the middle and overs under his belt.
"All the work Fred has done, particularly on a recent trip to Portugal when he was pushed really hard, means that he is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery, but he will continue his rehabilitation both on and off the field and hopefully he will be 100 percent again before not too long."