Flintoff on comeback trail

Updated 09.31 Mon Jul 30 2007

Keywords: Sajid Mahmood, Andrew Flintoff, cricket

Andrew Flintoff's recovery from ankle surgery is well on track after coming through a comeback match for Lancashire with no reaction.

The 29-year-old returned to competitive action as a batsman only with a 40-ball innings of 25 for his county in their one-day win against Sri Lanka A in Liverpool on Sunday.

The 29-year-old returned to competitive action as a batsman only with a 40-ball innings of 25 for his county in their one-day win against Sri Lanka A

Flintoff underwent a third ankle operation this summer and his early return to action suggests he is ahead of schedule.

He will step up his rehabilitation with a likely outing for the Red Rose in the LV County Championship Division One match starting on Tuesday against Sussex - again just as a batsman.

There were further encouraging signs after the 35-run victory when Flintoff even ambled in to bowl a few balls at wicketkeeper Luke Sutton.

All the talk about Flintoff's return, until a few days ago, was geared towards an appearance in Lancashire's assault on Twenty20 Cup finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday.

There were also encouraging signs for another of Lancashire's returning stars, Sajid Mahmood, who enjoyed his first five-wicket haul in limited-overs cricket.

The 25-year-old England seamer has been out for seven weeks after a double hernia operation.