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Stomach bug puts buffers on Flintoff's second comeback game

21/02/2008

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff missed the England Lions' two-wicket defeat to Maharashtra in Mumbai due to a stomach bug.

The 30-year-old is in India with the Lions squad in a bid to regain match fitness following a fourth ankle operation he underwent last year.

Flintoff's first match back was less than successful after he was out having scored just four runs against a Mumbai XI last week. He did not bowl in that match as he continues to ease his way back into his action following the surgery.

The setback is not viewed as a major incident by the England medical team, however, who are continuing to monitor the player's return to action to determine if there are any adverse effects from the operation.

Flintoff attempted to make a comeback with the full England side in last year's one-day series against India and the World Twenty20 in South Africa.

However, he subsequently broke down while bowling and was told he must undergo further repair work and a full course of rehabilitation before he would be considered again.

In today's match, the Lions failed to defend their below-par total of 183, despite Durham fast-bowler Graham Onions' impressive figures of 7-39.

Captain Michael Yardy was forced to drop out of the lineup, having already lost the toss, because of a migraine - meaning England batted with only ten players.

Michael Carberry was the pick of England's batsmen, following up his century earlier this week with 67 and Adil Rashid added 40 of his own.

However, these were only two of three players to reach double figures and despite the hosts being reduced to 160-8 at one stage, Digambar Waghmare and Kishore Bhikane shared an unbroken partnership to ease to victory with a little over ten overs to spare.