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Flintoff recalled to England squad

15/07/2008

Andrew Flintoff has been named in the England 12-man Test squad for the first time in 18 months for Friday's second Test against South Africa at Headingley.

The all-rounder hasn't started a Test for England since the final Test of the ill-fated Ashes tour to Australia in Sydney in January 2007.

Since that Test in January 2007 Flintoff has undergone ankle surgery, and last month suffered a side strain which kept him out of the one-day series with New Zealand, as well as the first test with South Africa at Lord's.

Flintoff replaces perennial 12th man Chris Tremlett in an otherwise unchanged squad.

It is likely that Flintoff will start at Headingley in place out-of-form Paul Collingwood, although Ryan Sidebottom's stiff back could force him out, which would save Collingwood's place.

Flintoff has been struggling for form since his return from injury, but he managed to score the winning runs for Lancashire against Hampshire on Monday with a knock of 39 not out from 23 balls.

He also scored 53 from 41 balls in a Twenty20 game last week.

It is with the ball where England have been missing him, however, as they failed to capitalise on a first innings lead of 346 over South Africa, with the visitors batting for two days straight with the loss of only three wickets to hold on for a draw.

"There are plenty of options now with Freddie coming back in and will potentially create five bowlers or we could play him in a four-man attack. That's the big question that we will be asked all week," England captain Michael Vaughan said of the return of the Lancashire man.

England squad for second Test v South Africa:

Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire, captain), Tim Ambrose (Warwickshire, wicketkeeper), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Paul Collingwood (Durham), Alastair Cook (Essex), Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire), Monty Panesar (Northamptonshire), Kevin Pietersen (Hampshire), Ryan Sidebottom (Nottinghamshire), Andrew Strauss (Middlesex).