Flintoff to test injured ankle
Andrew Flintoff will only return to the England side when he is fit to bowl
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Tuesday, 29, May 2007 11:10
Andrew Flintoff is set to test his injured ankle in a four-day match for county side Lancashire.
The all-rounder is bidding a return to fitness after missing the opening two Tests of the summer and has been named in Lancashire's 14-man squad for their County Championship match against Sussex at Hove.
Flintoff has played for Lancashire as a specialist batsman so far this season, not daring to risk his vulnerable left ankle to prolonged spells of bowling.
After extensive work on his back with the Lancashire team Flintoff now looks likely to start for the Red Rose but the pain and risk of further injury may prevent him from returning to England.
As new England coach Peter Moores has made it clear he will only play Flintoff if he can form part of the national side's bowling attack.
England already have a selection headache following the successful reintroduction of Ryan Sidebottom to the side.
Matthew Hoggard's impending return and Steve Harmison and Liam Plunkett's unconvincing performances, combined with strong form displayed by all the side's batsmen apart from Andrew Strauss, mean the selectors face a number of options for the next clash with West Indies even if Flintoff remains absent.
The third Test begins at Old Trafford on June 7th at 11:00 BST.