England Cricket / Editor / 22 March 2007 /

Paul Nixon is banking on Andrew Flintoff to let his cricket make the headlines when England resume their World Cup campaign.
Flintoff's late night booze escapades in the early hours of last Saturday led to him being fined, dropped for Sunday's victory over Canada and stripped of the vice-captaincy in a shameful incident for the all-rounder.

The Lancashire star was forced to make a humiliating apology to the rest of the squad and England fans in front of the world's media this week.

But wicketkeeper Nixon, who was one of the six players also involved in the embarrassing episode, is hoping the case is now closed and is confident Flintoff in particular will respond in the right manner.

Flintoff is tipped to win his place back in the side for Saturday's final Group C encounter with Kenya, when a win will secure England's place in the Super 8 phase of the Caribbean showpiece.

"He's got a lot to prove," said Nixon.

"He loves the adversity side of things and I'm sure he'll come back strongly and prove to everybody he's a world-class cricketer - I'm sure he will make his cricket do the talking again."

England are 1.14 favourites to beat Kenya and progress in the West Indies, with their opponents trading at 7.8 in the Match Odds market.

Duncan Fletcher's men are also available at 1.09 to secure their place in the next stage of the tournament, while Flintoff, who has yet to register a single World Cup run, can be backed at 12 to bounce back and end the event as the top England runscorer.

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