MELBOURNE, July 25: Australia officials have welcomed the prospect of helping Andrew Flintoff, the man who spearheaded England's Ashes success last year, prove his fitness ahead of this winter's series in domestic grade cricket.

Flintoff, who will captain England if fit for the series starting in November, is to undergo an ankle operation next week that should keep him out of action for three months.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) mooted the suggestion he and fellow injury victim Ashley Giles play in South Africa or grade cricket in Australia to prove their fitness for the Ashes series beginning on Nov. 23 in Brisbane.

“I think there would be plenty of club cricketers relishing the opportunity to be Andrew Flintoff's teammate or on the other hand to play against him,” Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday.

Sutherland said there would be no need for formal contact with the ECB over Flintoff playing for an Australian club. “This really isn't an issue for us, it's down to the state associations and the clubs to arrange. There is nothing in the regulations to stop this..—Reuters