Andrew Miller backing Andrew Flintoff to make full recovery

Jan 21 2008 by Myles Hodgson, Liverpool Daily Post

ENGLAND’S new chief selector Geoff Miller insists Andrew Flintoff will be given all the time he needs to complete his rehabilitation from ankle surgery.

The 30-year-old Lancashire all-rounder is recovering from a fourth operation and is not expected to make his return to international duty until the summer.

“He’s been very happy with his last operation,” Miller said. “He’s coming through extremely well with his rehab.

“We won’t rush into anything. He’s too vital a position to rush it and for it to go wrong again.

“He’s keen to get back and we’re keen to have him back. When it’s right on both sides, we’ll look at it.”

Miller, who will travel with the England squad to New Zealand for next month’s one-day series, heads a four-man selection committee that also comprises head coach Peter Moores and part-timers Ashley Giles and James Whitaker.

And the former Derbyshire spinner says he will have the final say on selection issues.

“If it came to a 2-2 (tie), the decision would be mine but hopefully it won’t come down to that,” he said.

“I think basically we’ve got the same kind of minds.”

Miller, who has taken over from David Graveney, believes the future is bright for English cricket.

“We’re in a bit of a transition,” he added. “We’ve got some quality players in the side and some exciting youngsters coming through.

“In one-day cricket, there’s been a bit of an upward curve recently with wins against Sri Lanka and India so that’s looking promising.

“We’ve just got to get back on an even keel on the Test scene and I’ve no doubt we’re capable of doing that.”

Meanwhile, England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has backed his side to follow up their one-day international series 3-2 win over Sri Lanka with victory over New Zealand.

“I am very confident we can do well in the one-day series in New Zealand and come away with a series victory,” he said. “The wickets in New Zealand are very similar to the tracks in England and we have got the type of bowlers who will do well on them.”

England begin with a warm-up against Canterbury on February 2.

YESTERDAY: FIRST ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL Centurion Park West Indies 175 (DJG Sammy 51) v South Africa 176-4 (JP Duminy 79 no) South Africa beat West Indies by 6 wkts

SATURDAY THIRD TEST MATCH Perth India 330 (R Dravid 93, S R Tendulkar 71, M G Johnson 4-86) & 294 (VVS Laxman 79, S R Clark 4-61) v Australia 212 (A Symonds 66, A C Gilchrist 55, R P Singh 4-68) & 340 (MJ Clarke 81, M G Johnson 50 no) India beat Australia by 72 runs

TODAY: FIRST ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL (1 day) Karachi Pakistan v Zimbabwe (06.00)