Flintoff still unsure of return date

Andrew Flintoff intends to be batting again in practice this month or early next, but admits he still cannot say when he may play again.

The 32-year-old all-rounder played his final Test as England won the Ashes against Australia at the Brit Oval last year.

He had an operation on his left knee the next day, but initial hopes that he could be fit to play for Lancashire at the start of this season had to be revised following further surgery in January.

Flintoff's updated timetable of recovery remains to play again for his county by the end of July, with a view to returning in limited-overs cricket for England in due course.

That still appeared to be his hope today when he said: "It’s going all right. The first five weeks [since the latest operation] have been just resting, letting it all settle down.

"The past three or four weeks I’ve been able to work pretty hard, cycling, swimming, kayaking. I’ve got a bit of strength back in my legs."

Even so, Flintoff is unable to set a definite target to return to the middle.

"I’ve not got a date that I can just pull out of the air,” he added. "But after the last operation we said five or six months, which is going to take us to the end of July, early August.

"So that’s the only time frame. I’ve not done any cricket yet but over the next few weeks I’ll get a bat back in my hand."

Flintoff is notably equivocal about his prospects of returning for England - his stated intent throughout.

He admits too that he has allowed thoughts of permanent retirement from all forms of cricket to cross his mind, but remains resolved to do all he can first to regain his fitness.

“Before every operation, it does cross your mind,” he said.

“However, I’ve always said that while I feel I can play I will do – if I feel I can play as well as I did before I was injured then I’ll carry on.

“That’s still the case. I still think I can come back and perform for Lancashire, at the highest level as well. I just have to do it.

“I’m confident of doing that. There’s a lot of things I can improve on as a cricketer.

“If I can just find my game a little bit more, and adapt my game to what’s going on in the world of cricket, I don’t see any reason why not.

“I’ve retired from Test cricket obviously and originally I was going to play one-dayers and Twenty20s.

“But if I feel strong enough and get in the (Lancashire) team it would be nice to (play for England again).”

There is a strong deja-vu for Flintoff and everyone else as he continues his rehabilitation. For him, the hope must be that this injury chapter turns out the same as the others in the end.

“It’s never been particularly easy coming back, but there’s always been the incentive to do so,” he added.

“I get out of bed and do my training. It’s become part of my life, with all the injuries I’ve had in the past three or four years, so I just get on with it.”

The one incentive not on his mind, though, is any thought of reprising his Test career.

Once more in front of the cameras, he spelled out: “I had my time in Test cricket and loved it, and to have the opportunity to finish as we did at the Oval was perfect.

“I’m sure during the winter (of 2010/11) watching Jimmy (Anderson) running in knocking the Aussies over I’ll get a bit jealous.

“However, I’ll just revert to being an English cricket fan. It’s a decision that was made, and I’m happy with it – I’ve seen other things in life.

“I’m not quite sure I’d fancy going on tours for three or four months again.”

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