England happy to wait for Flintoff

Last Modified: 27 Mar 2008
Source: ITN

England cricket coach Peter Moores has refused to set a comeback date for Andrew Flintoff.

The all-rounder has not played a Test match for more than a year and it is over six months since he played for England in a one-day international.

But he is on the way back to fitness after surgery on his left ankle and he has played in all but one of Lancashire's matches on a tour of Dubai.

Flintoff is hoping to play in the first Test against New Zealand, which begins on May 15, but Moores prefers to remain cautious.

He said: "We're deliberately not putting a date on it. He's got to be fit and feeling good about himself first.

"Andrew's progress is very promising. He's bowling and the reports back are good. The key for him is not to push it until he feels very happy in himself and the medical staff are very happy at where he's at."

England are not in desperate need of extra bowlers at the moment.

Ryan Sidebottom claimed 24 wickets over the course of the last three Tests against New Zealand, while Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison were left out of the last two Tests and they are fighting to displace Stuart Broad and James Anderson.

Moores added: "The progression he's going through at the moment with Lancashire is for him to get stuck into the season.

"Naturally that will happen and he'll get a chance to play as a batsman and a bowler and get battle-hardened again in county cricket after a reasonable time out."

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