Flintoff surgery declared a success

Andrew Flintoff could be available as early as the the ICC World Twenty20, after an operation on his right knee was declared a success by surgeons. Flintoff was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in the knee while playing for Chennai Super Kings, and returned to the UK on Friday amid questions as to whether he should have been playing in the IPL so soon before an Ashes campaign

The all-rounder has now left hospital following what the ECB called "routine and successful key hole surgery." The recovery time for such an operation is generally around the five to six week mark, placing him in line to resume his career in the very format that sent him to the surgeon's table - Twenty20.

"The surgeon has informed the ECB chief medical officer Nick Peirce that the operation went extremely smoothly," Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, said. "I am grateful to the ECB medical team, the surgeon and radiologists as well as the Chennai Super Kings for keeping the England team management and me informed about Andrew's injury and the subsequent operation.'

England name their Twenty20 squad, along with the captain, on Friday for the tournament which starts on June 5. Newspaper reports in England have suggested Paul Collingwood, the once reluctant leader, will be named captain of the Twenty20 side despite not playing a game for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. Owais Shah, another not to have made the Delhi starting XI, is also expected to be named in the squad, along with fellow IPL players Kevin Pietersen, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Ravi Bopara.