Flintoff holds out hope

Andrew Flintoff launches ASDA Kwik Cricket in Regents Park

Andrew Flintoff remains “hopeful” of playing a full part for England in the first Test against West Indies despite another injury scare with his left ankle.

The 29-year-old Lancashire all-rounder had a scan on his troublesome ankle at the weekend after feeling discomfort while bowling for Lancashire in their LV County Championship match against Hampshire.

England are still awaiting the results of that scan to determine the extent of the injury but Flintoff remains optimistic he will be able to feature in Thursday’s opening Test at Lord’s.

“I’m still hopeful for Thursday,” Flintoff said at annual launch of ASDA Kwik Cricket in Regents Park in London.

“Sometimes when it is the ankle the alarm bells start ringing a bit but I’m still very hopeful.

“When I was operated on it was on the back and the inside of the ankle but this pain is more on the outside.

“This discomfort is something I felt during the winter so it is not something completely new.”

Flintoff missed the second half of last summer after undergoing a second operation on that ankle and recovered just in time to lead England in the ICC Champions Trophy and the Ashes over the winter.

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