Flintoff eyes Test return

Andrew Flintoff is hoping to be fit for the first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Lord's on May 15.

But the 30-year-old all-rounder is still urging caution over his rehabilitation from a fourth operation on his problematic left ankle.

"There is a Test match on May 15 which I would love to be involved in," said Flintoff. "I have missed a lot of international cricket through injury and I don't want to miss any more - or at least as little as I have to. But I am under no illusions that if I am to get back in that side then I have to be fit and playing well."

He added: "I would love to put my name in the hat, but even if I am playing well they have just won two Test matches on the bounce. I would just like to be in the mix.

"As much as you can go on about May 15, and getting back into the England side, there is a lot of cricket at Lancashire at the start of the season. If you look at the fixtures, we have not only got a lot of championship cricket but also a lot of one-day cricket.

"I would love to be involved but I am not going to get ahead of myself. I know that it is a bit of a cliche but let's just take it day by day."