England Cricket / Editor / 19 May 2007 /

Andrew Flintoff will play for Lancashire as a batsman only against Yorkshire in a one-day match on Sunday as he steps up his match fitness.

The all-rounder is battling to shake off an ankle problem in time for England's second Test against West Indies at Headingley next Friday - although his chances of an automatic return look slim after four men hit centuries against the visitors in the opening Test at Lord's.

Alastair Cook, the 3.3 favourite in Betfair's Test Series top England runscorer market, hit 105, while Paul Collingwood (111), Ian Bell (109) and debutant wicket-keeper Matthew Prior (126) all smashed the 100 mark.

Flintoff, who has had two operations on the same left ankle over the last three years, will have the problem assessed after Sunday's outing by England's medical staff.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement: "The England management has agreed with Lancashire that Andrew Flintoff will play for his county as a batsman only against Yorkshire in Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy fixture at Old Trafford.
"Flintoff's injury will then be reassessed by the England medical staff prior to the second npower Test at Headingley Carnegie to see whether he is fit to bowl and available for selection as an all-rounder."

England are in the box seat after ending day two of the first Test on 553-5 and are predictably the 1.53 favourites in Betfair's match odds market, with the Windies not fancied on 100. The draw is available at 2.96.

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