He continued his recovery by helping Lancashire defeat Yorkshire by 41 runs in the Pro Arabian Cricket Challenge Trophy and took his tally of overs to nine in two games after previously bowling five overs against Sussex in Dubai.

Flintoff said: "I have got to focus all my energies on playing for Lancashire. If I can stay fit and perform, then I would hopefully be in the shake up.

"The ankle is fine. I am happy with the way things are - how the ankle is standing up to the rigours of bowling.

"Everybody tells me I am at 70%. I am certainly not hitting the crease as hard as I would like, but it feels good and easy.

"I was always confident that once I was fit that my bowling would be fine. It is still early days, and I am not going to get carried away.

"At this moment I am happy with it. I just hope it continues in that way."

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