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Flintoff "desperate" to return to action for England

20/02/2008

Andrew Flintoff has said he is desperate to get back to action and playing cricket for Lancashire and England again.

The all-rounder returned from his latest ankle surgery in the England Lions' three-wicket victory over Mumbai XV on Tuesday.

And he admitted he was itching to get back onto the field and scoring some runs for his country again.

Flintoff told ECBtv: "I'm desperate to get back on the field and play for them but I've got a bit to prove – you can't just walk into a side such as England's.

"Hopefully I'm going to get the chance to start the season with Lancashire, which will give me five or six week before the first Test match [against New Zealand].

"I want to get into some rhythm with the ball, and the one thing I desperately want to do is score some runs with the bat – some big runs, which I've not scored for a while now," he added.

Flintoff admitted his recovery from successive ankle operations had not been as smooth as he would have liked and the continuing pain had affected his game.

"Ankle pain has not helped the batting. I've not been able to string innings together," the Lancashire player said.

He admitted to being sore after the 50-over game on Tuesday but admitted it was good just to be playing again.

"It’s nice to be around a cricket team again, especially getting the chance to play as well, which I didn't think I was going to a few weeks ago," he said.