Flintoff included for second Test

Pa
Monday 14 July 2008 17:11 BST
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Andrew Flintoff has been included in the England squad for the second npower Test against South Africa which starts at Headingley later this week.

The star all-rounder has been battling back to fitness for his county side Lancashire following a side strain.

Captain Michael Vaughan refused to confirm how England would accommodate the the return of fit-again all-rounder Andrew Flintoff after South Africa ground out a draw in the first Test at Lord's.

Flintoff took the place of Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett in a 12-man squad which was announced almost immediately after the captains shook hands following a gutsy two-day rearguard by the Proteas.

He had earlier hit the winning runs for Lancashire against Hampshire in a match which proved he was fit to bowl fast and often as well as capable of finding the boundaries with the bat.

He is now sure to be named in the final XI, barring a shock breakdown, but Vaughan did not give any clues about who may be forced to give way.

"This team has been playing good cricket for a long period now. We're bringing in Fred to the squad for Headingley and we'll have to get up there, assess the conditions and come up with the best XI to beat South Africa," he told Sky Sports.

"It (Flintoff's recall) was decided finally this afternoon but obviously we've thought about this for some time. We did the right thing in allowing him some cricket with Lancashire.

"Now you've got to assess the conditions on the ground you play on. The forecast at Headingley is very crucial so we'll know more about our XI when we get there."

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