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Wait over for relieved Flintoff's return

18/07/2008

Andrew Flintoff says he will have to concentrate on "keeping my emotions in check" when he returns to the Test arena in an England shirt later today.

The England allrounder has been named in a starting XI for his country for the first time since January 2007 after finally proving he has shaken off a longstanding ankle injury.

Speaking in an interview with Ian Botham in the Daily Mirror today, Flintoff said he would like to repeat Beefy's feat of two wickets in his first two overs after a lengthy break from the international scene.

"It'd be nice to take a wicket with my first ball back!" Flintoff, now 30, said.

"The ankle operation was a long time ago and I don't feel it at all. There is obviously an expectation, but I can't build it up too much in my own mind."

Flintoff led England to their 5-0 whitewash in the 2005/06 Ashes humiliation against Australia and made clear he is not keen on repeating the leadership experience.

"Being captain is not something I'm looking to do now. I think I have an influence within the side the way I play my cricket and I just want to carry on with that," he explained.

Flintoff will bat at seven in the new England lineup, with injury concerns meaning the final decision on who will leave the side is yet to be made.

He insists he remains as committed to playing cricket as ever, adding: "What I need is to play, because that is what I do. I'm a professional.

"My family means everything to me and with my injuries I've spent more time with them than I otherwise would have, but the fact is I need to be back on that field performing, it is a big part of who I am."

The second Test against South Africa begins at 11:00 BST today with the series currently tied 0-0.