Cricket: Flintoff ready for New Zealand Test

Apr 24 2008 by David Clough, Liverpool Daily Post

ANDREW FLINTOFF is “ready to go” for the first Test against New Zealand and is already bowling at his optimum.

The informed report comes from a highly-qualified source, Flintoff’s former England team-mate Marcus Trescothick – who was given the hurry-up more than once by his old pal at Old Trafford yesterday. Somerset opener Trescothick finished day one of the LV County Championship Division One match with 77 out of his team’s 238 all out – before watching the hosts reach 60 without loss in reply.

He was satisfied with his own form – despite needing his share of luck with dropped catches – but as far as the England selectors are concerned, Trescothick’s most telling update was on Flintoff.

“He’s ready to go,” the former England opener said of the linchpin all-rounder, who is playing only his second first-class match after a fourth bout of surgery on his left ankle last autumn.

“That’s as good as he’ll bowl – I don’t think he’ll get into a Test match against New Zealand in a couple of weeks’ time and bowl any differently.

“Bowling-wise, he’s ready.”

Flintoff did enough, in the first of two eight-over spells, to give Trescothick plenty to think about – although it was in his second stint shortly before tea that he returned to take his two wickets.

“It was tough. He bowled really well today – very consistent pace,” added Trescothick, whose runs were augmented for the visitors by a second half-century from Ian Blackwell (64).

“It was normal ‘Freddie’ – you never would have know he would have had much of a lay-off.”

The Lancashire seam contingent comprised Flintoff and fellow England bowlers Jimmy Anderson, Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood – the latter faring the best statistically with three for 54.

Flintoff’s two for 40 from 16 overs came in two encouragingly brawny spells as Trescothick’s Somerset were bowled out for 238 in two-and-a-half sessions after choosing to bat first.

That they managed as many as they did was principally down to Trescothick (77) and Ian Blackwell (64) – before Lancashire replied with 60 without loss.

Lancashire’s formidable seam attack took individual turns for bursts of wickets – although in the end theirs was a co-operative effort, swing being the main weapon with new and old ball on a fair pitch.

The upshot was that Somerset stumbled from the relative lunchtime health of 85 for two to an apologetic 195 for seven by tea – and were unable to arrest the slide significantly afterwards.