April 25, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1429

MANCHESTER, April 24: Andrew Flintoff is ready to go for next month’s first Test against New Zealand according to former England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick.

The left-hander was rushed more than once by Flintoff and dropped off his old colleague’s bowling twice while making 77 for Somerset on the first day of their County Championship match against Lancashire at Old Trafford here on Wednesday.

Trescothick, who last month announced his retirement from international cricket following a recurrence of the stress-related illness which cut short his England career, top-scored in Somerset’s 238 all out with Flintoff taking a typically economical two for 40 from 16 overs.

During the close season all-rounder Flintoff underwent a fourth operation on a troublesome left ankle that has not always been able to stand the strain of his all-action approach to fast bowling.

This match is only his second first-class appearance since surgery but Trescothick was convinced Flintoff, who has not played Test cricket in over a year, would have no fears in being ready for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on May 15.

“He’s ready to go,” said Trescothick after Lancashire closed on 60 without loss in reply to Somerset’s total. “That’s as good as he’ll bowl — I don’t think he’ll get into a Test match against New Zealand in a couple of weeks’ time and bowl any differently. Bowling-wise, he’s ready.

“It was tough. He bowled really well today — very consistent pace,” added Trescothick after Flintoff had Peter Trego caught behind and Craig Kieswetter leg before.

“It was normal ‘Freddie’ — you never would have known he would have had much of a lay-off.”

As well as Flintoff, Lancashire’s pace attack featured three other England bowlers in James Anderson, Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood — the latter the most statistically successful with three for 54.—AFP