Flintoff: I'm ready
Andrew Flintoff insists he is ready to fire England to glory in this summer's Test series against New Zealand and has urged selectors to pick him for the opening match next week. The Lancashire all-rounder has not played international cricket for over a year, but is now hoping to force himself back into the equation.
Despite struggling with the bat, Flintoff has proved a different class with the ball, terrorising Durham throughout their County Championship match at Old Trafford by taking seven wickets.
"I definitely feel I could play a Test match now," Flintoff told The Sun. "I've missed a lot of international cricket in the past, so I'm itching to play for England once more.
"My bowling in both forms of the game has been going very well. The ball is coming out nicely and there have been no ill-effects or twinges in the ankle, which is a big relief."
"As far as the Test is concerned, we'll just have to wait and see.Most of the England bowlers are firing.
"What really pleases me is I have bowled some eight-over spells and 12 in a session on Wednesday with no problems.
"I had a bit of body stiffness when I first started bowling again but I feel confident and the opposition we've faced in county cricket has been tough."
While Flintoff has impressed with the ball, he is yet to start firing with the bat, registering two consecutive ducks against Durham.
But he insists that his current dry run will come to an end and says he is confident of regaining his form in the near future.
"In the nets, I'm hitting the ball fine," he added. "Anyone can get a first-baller and, in fairness, I got a good delivery from Peter Trego against Somerset and the ball against Durham on Wednesday moved enough to take the edge.
"I still consider myself a batting all-rounder. I think I always will. I would say I take more pride in my batting. I just need to get a score and I'll be fine. If I do play for England again, I'd love to bat as high up the order as I can.
"But I know I've not set the world alight with my batting so far, so don't feel in any position to say where I want to bat.
"I'd love to have both parts of the game working well, though that's not possible very often when you're an all-rounder. Normally, the batting or the bowling is going better."
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