Flintoff to join up with Lions squad

Andrew Flintoff will join up with the England Lions squad in India on February 10 as he continues his rehabilitation following September's operation on his troublesome ankle. He will, however, play no part in the Duleep Trophy competition that got underway this week.

Flintoff was due to fly out to Mumbai in mid-February for a pre-season batting clinic with a Lancashire CCC academy squad, but he will now first travel to Baroda to meet up with the England Lions where he'll have the opportunity to work with the ECB's coaching and support staff.

Commenting on the news, David Parsons, the ECB Performance Director and head coach of the squad said: "We're delighted that Andrew Flintoff is in a position to join up with the England Lions.

"His rehabilitation programme is going very well and he's been working extremely hard over the past few months to get back to full fitness. This trip will provide him with an excellent opportunity to receive support from the ECB's coaching and science and medicine support staff."