Flintoff suffers two ducks in a row

Published on Thursday 8 May 2008 22:41

ANDREW Flintoff's batting woes went from bad to worse when he bagged another duck in Lancashire's LV County Championship game against Durham at Old Trafford – but his bowling could yet rescue his hopes of an England recall.

The 30-year-old all-rounder faced five balls in his side's second innings on the second day of the LV Division 1 fixture before being bowled by Garry Park. Flintoff was caught behind in the first innings off the bowling of Mark Davies to record a golden duck. Yesterday's failure means he bought up the fourth pair of his career. He has also now recorded three consecutive ducks in the Championship on the back of his zero against Somerset a fortnight ago.

Despite Flintoff's batting horror show his county were still able to take control of this fixture after setting Durham 323 to win on a bowler friendly pitch. Lancashire were bowled out for 293 in their second innings.

Predictably Flintoff steamed in to claim three wickets, including Scot Kyle Coetzer, for seven runs in a brutal six- over spell that reduced Durham to 28 for three at close. Paul Horton hit his second first-class century of 2008, his first in the Championship, to help the Red Rose build on an incredible first day.

Meanwhile, England legend Sir Ian Botham does not believe Flintoff should be rushed back into action for next week's Test.

Botham said: "I would just hold Fred back a bit. I'd like him to play a bit more county cricket. I'd like him to have plenty of overs under his belt and plenty of runs as a batsman come the South Africans later in the summer, because I think that will be a much sterner test. I'd just like him to be given that time to get his confidence back, full confidence in his body and more importantly in that ankle."

"England do need him but they need a fit Fred. But he also knows this is really make-or-break time because he's 30 years old and he's had four operations on it, so it's got to be right."

Flintoff last played international cricket in the ICC World Twenty20 last autumn but has not been involved in a Test since the disastrous 2006-07 Ashes, when he captained England.

Former England captain Michael Atherton also feels it is too soon for England to recall Flintoff. Atherton wrote in his newspaper column: "For his own sake, and for the good of the team he should not be picked – at least not yet. What is the rush?

"Why not let Flintoff continue to bowl for Lancashire so he can take time to build confidence."

NO BOYCOTT

ENGLAND insist they have not approached Geoffrey Boycott to become part of their management set-up with the senior squad.

But the ECB claims he may be asked to help with age-group teams rather than the senior squad.