Flintoff impresses Mahmood

Sajid Mahmood endorsed Andrew Flintoff’s England Test credentials despite outshining the all-rounder on the opening day of the LV County Championship encounter against Sussex.

Mahmood took 5-76 as both sides suffered batting collapses at Hove, while Flintoff failed to make an impression in the wickets column, but he still believes his team-mate is ready to go back on England duty again.

Flintoff, after a handful of Twenty20 Cup cameos for Lancashire, started his first championship match since suffering a side injury in early May, and managed 15 overs which cost 43 runs but contained wickets.

England’s squad for the npower Test series against South Africa will be announced on Thursday and the all-rounder, who took an easy catch at short extra-cover, will be looking to shine with the bat today, ready to go in next wicket down after Lancashire ended the first day on 67 for four in reply to Sussex’s 253.

Andrew Flintoff fields off his own bowling on his return to championship duty for Lancashire

But fast bowler Mahmood, who has not played for England since last year, modestly brushed off praise for his own performance to recommend Flintoff to the national selectors.

He said: “All the boys bowled pretty well as a unit and we did well to keep Sussex down to that score on a wicket like that. It was flat and slow and didn’t give us any help after they won the toss.

“But I’m very happy to end up with five wickets on the day, and Freddie bowled quick and aggressively and was hitting an area consistently. He’s quite economical as well and an asset to any team.

“I’m not sure whether he’s at 100% again yet but he looked pretty strong to me and I know he’s pleased with how he went.”

While Mahmood bowled with considerable pace on a slow surface, his five-wicket haul also owed much to injudicious shot selection from the Sussex batsmen.

And he admitted: “I didn’t have anything like the rhythm that I’ve had when taking five wickets here a few times before.”