TAUNTON (England), July 2: South Africa coach Mickey Arthur is expecting England to gamble on Andrew Flintoff in next week’s first Test.

Flintoff, who has not played a Test since January 2007, is hoping to be included in the squad England will announce on Thursday having recovered from a side strain that forced him to miss England’s Test and one-day matches against New Zealand.

Although Arthur believes the inclusion of the Lancashire all-rounder would represent a gamble after such a long lay-off, he suggested it was one he expects England coach Peter Moores to take.“Flintoff certainly gives the England attack a different flavour because he has got that bustling pace,” Arthur said. “It will be tempting to play him if he is fighting fit.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he came straight back in. I think he is a quality, quality cricketer. I think Flintoff coming back strengthens England.

“But I wouldn’t want to be selecting the side because I am not sure if you can bank on him coming straight back in and giving the amount of overs a Stuart Broad or a James Anderson would,” he added.

“So then he really has to take the place of one of the top six. That is what they have got to weigh up. I am not sure they will get the balance right there.

“But if I had a Flintoff, I’d have him back. It might be a gamble but Peter Moores knows what he is doing. He will assess things but when you’ve got a quality player like him available, you’ll want to pick him,” he stated.

Arthur was speaking after his side’s opening tour match, a three-day contest against Somerset, ended in a draw on Tuesday evening.

The South Africans’ focus will now turn to a three-day clash with Middlesex from Friday, in which Arthur will field his first-choice XI, with injury concerns over captain Graeme Smith (hamstring), all-rounder Jacques Kallis (elbow) and opening batsman Hashim Amla (groin) all receding.

“Jacques is fine. He will play against Middlesex. At this stage, we would probably want to put out our Test line-up in the game at Uxbridge,” Arthur expressed.

“Graeme is well on course, came through a net this morning, looked like he hadn’t been out of the nets. He got forward, got back and played well.

“Hashim hurt a groin, just a slight groin strain, when he batted. There was no point in risking it. If it had been a Test, he would certainly have been out there fielding and batting as well. He will get another couple of knocks at Uxbridge,” he said.—AFP