LONDON, Aug 5: Andrew Flintoff's return as a fully-fledged all-rounder should make the task of the England selectors that bit easier when they name their 14-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy on Friday.
Flintoff's ankle problems prevented him from bowling during the recent NatWest Series one-day campaign where England failed to qualify for the final of the triangular event contested by New Zealand and West Indies.
Flintoff, 26, made back-to-back hundreds during the NatWest Series but his inability to bowl left England with a lopsided attack. However, he has featured with both bat and ball during England's recent Test wins over the West Indies and scored a Test-best 167 at Edgbaston last week as his side went 2-0 up in the four-match series.
Doubts still remain over Flintoff's fitness but with him in the side England, who host next month's Champions TrophyMichael Vaughan will have an added element of control in his bowling line-up.
The Lancashire all-rounder is suffering from a bone spur problem in his ankle but England chiefs have sounded increasingly confident in recent weeks that Flintoff will not need surgery and could play in what may be as many as seven One-day Internationals next month.
His inclusion would also allow England to play Ashley Giles as a specialist spinner, an option they chose to do without on three occasions during the triangular event.
But it is Flintoff's increasing maturity as a batsman that has been the real bonus for England in recent times. He struck a maiden one-day hundred against New Zealand at Bristol in his 73rd appearance and followed that two days later with another against West Indies at Lord's.
"I have batted at number five for a year or so now and I feel I have improved," said Flintoff, who made his debut in 1999. "One plus point I can take out of recent times is the way I have built my innings.
"Instead of getting out around the 40-over mark I have been pacing things quite well. "I feel I have made good progress in a short space of time but is has taken a long while to get to that. I am only now getting in the right direction and towards where I think I should be." -AFP
