No Roses return for Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff's return to the Lancashire first team has been put on hold after he was omitted from the squad to face Yorkshire on Friday in the T20 Blast.

The Roses match at Old Trafford, which will be on television, had been tipped as a potential comeback date for Flintoff, who has not played fully since 2009, but two appearances - one for his club St Annes and another for the Lancashire 2nd XI - have not been enough to persuade the Lancashire hierarchy that he is worthy of a spot in a side that has won four T20s on a row.

Appearing in the 2nd XI T20 finals day at Arundel on Thursday, Flintoff claimed 2 for 39 and made 16 before falling to a sweep as Lancashire lost their semi-final against Leicestershire.

After his appearance for St Annes, Flintoff acknowledged he would have to fight for his Lancashire spot. "I'm just going to see where it goes. I appreciate that Lancashire are on a roll in Twenty20s and there's Jos and Jimmy and people to come back in to that side. So it's not a gimme that I'm going to play. But I'm going to try to put myself in the frame."

After the Yorkshire match, Lancashire's next T20 fixture is against Leicestershire, at Old Trafford, on June 13.