Cricket: Andrew Flintoff bats to step up recovery

Mar 17 2008 by Alan Easel, Liverpool Daily Post

ANDREW FLINTOFF came through the latest stage of his recovery from left ankle surgery by batting in Lancashire’s 63-run win over Essex in the pre-season Pro Arch Series in Sharjah.

The 30-year-old all- rounder impressed during his innings of 39 in 51 balls, which lasted for 65 minutes and included four boundaries.

Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson admitted that the camp were encouraged by Flintoff’s return as a batsman only.

"I thought he looked balanced at the crease and he was in control of his innings. We were pleased with that," Watkinson said.

"I think that he would have been quite happy with that as a starting point given that he hasn’t done a lot of match batting in recent times.

"He wasn’t going looking for the ball he was waiting for it to come to him. He just played well down the ground and it was just about playing the percentage areas at this stage.

"It was just a pity that he wasn’t around in the last 10 overs when he could have opened his shoulders a little bit."

Flintoff looked good on both sides of the wicket during his innings at the venue where he made his one- day international debut for England against Pakistan in 1999.

He looked particularly strong straight down the ground and hit two searing boundaries back past the bowler before he was finally bowled by Ryan ten Doeschate in the 41st over.

Watkinson continued: "I think that he would have been quite happy with that as a starting point given that he hasn’t done a lot of match batting in recent times.

"I thought he looked balanced at the crease and he was in control of his innings. We were pleased with that.

"It was just a pity that he wasn’t around in the last 10 overs when he could have opened his shoulders a little bit."

Flintoff is now expected to move to the next stage of recovery from a fourth operation last October by bowling in a match situation against either Sussex or Yorkshire on Wednesday or Friday at Abu Dhabi.

Flintoff has been bowling in the nets since Lancashire arrival in the UAE last Tuesday and also had a practice bowl after the match off a full run-up.

"Bowling here was just part of his rehab programme with a view to bowling him at some point during the next two matches," Watkinson added.

Iain Sutcliffe and Luke Sutton hit 54 and 51 apiece as Lancashire, who won the toss and elected to bat, posted 255 for nine in warm-up fixture.

James Middlebrook took three for 30, ten Doeschate two for 32 and Ravi Bopara two for 48 for Essex.

The Chelmsford side were then reduced from 57 without loss to 58 for three thanks to three wickets in eight balls for Kyle Hogg (four for 29) and Simon Marshall (three for 32).

Dutchman ten Doeschate top scored for the Eagles with 33 as they were bowled out for 192 to give Lancashire victory.