Andrew Flintoff produced a typically aggressive bowling burst after scoring only four on the opening day of Lancashire's Liverpool Victoria County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury yesterday.
The world-class allrounder, looking to prove his fitness for next Thursday's second Test against Pakistan, bowled with customary venom in taking two for 11 in an opening six-over spell and knocked Robert Key's off stump out with his first ball.
He returned late in the day for a further four-over burst to finish with two for 16 from ten overs. Flintoff also took a magnificent one-handed slip catch to dismiss David Fulton off Glen Chapple.
Lancashire struggled to 218 all out in near-perfect batting conditions but the 28-year-old removed Key before trapping Martin van Jaarsveld in front for six. Kent finished on 130 for four, still 87 runs behind.
* James Anderson still does not know when he will be able to play cricket again as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture of the back. Lancashire's England fast bowler has been out of action all summer with what was soon to be diagnosed as a serious injury. County coach Mike Watkinson said: "We will step up his bowling workload and hope that will result in him playing some cricket by the end of the season."
* Indian spinner Anil Kumble is set to make his debut for Division Two leaders Surrey against Somerset at the Oval today.
* Mushtaq Ahmed could be in line for a Test recall as Pakistan draft extra spinners into their squad this week. The 36-year-old leg-spinner has 53 first-class wickets in eight outings this summer. The Pakistan Cricket Board have ratified the inclusion of Mushtaq as the 17th member of the touring party but the management have made no final decision as he is troubled by sciatic pain.
