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Cricket

Flintoff backed over return to six

13/08/2008

Peter Moores has predicted England will reap the rewards of Andrew Flintoff returning to six in the England batting order.

The Lancashire all-rounder was reinstated at number six by new England captain Kevin Pietersen.

His predecessor Michael Vaughan had wanted to reintroduce him to the international setup at seven after an 18-month injury layoff.

But England coach Moores said Fintoff's winning six against South Africa in the final Test at the Oval was a sign of things to come.

"The nice thing about seeing Fred bat at six is that it gives us balance and lets us put out the attack we put out in the last Test," Moores explained in a nod to the five specialist bowlers in the England XI.

"Watching the bowling attack with the four seamers, it gave us lots of options to maintain pressure for longer and that's really promising.

"Fred looks in good nick to me. He's played well at six before so there's no reason at all why he can't play well at six again."