Time for rusty Flintoff to be a hit

Andrew Flintoff goes into today's latest set-to with Australia as the biggest England gun still waiting to fire some real shots this summer. Flintoff bowled encouragingly well throughout the one-sided Test series against Bangladesh, having recovered ahead of schedule from his February ankle operation.

And the Lancastrian's hostility with the ball helped to unsettle Australia during England's Twenty20 and NatWest Series victories over the world champions at Southampton and Bristol.

But, as a batsman, Flintoff is still waiting to emerge from first gear and has looked rusty after spending too little time at the crease for county and country.

The all-rounder's only innings of real substance this season was for Lancashire against Worcestershire in the county championship.

Since that knock of 83 nearly two months ago, Flintoff has done more batting in the nets than in the middle. He did not bat during the two Tests against Bangladesh, nor when England started this triangular tournament with a 10-wicket thrashing of the minnows at The Oval last Thursday. He dragged a drive to mid-wicket after making just six in the Twenty20 bash, then holed out at long-off against Australia in Bristol and Bangladesh at Trent Bridge for 19 and 17.

This has been thrown into focus by the big hitting going on around him. Kevin Pietersen's unbeaten 91 at Bristol has been the most explosive example, but Marcus Trescothick, Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood are building a small mountain of boundaries.

Australia are under huge pressure in today's day-night clash at Chester-le-Street after their run of four defeats in a week, to England (twice), Somerset and Bangladesh.

"We are sick of getting beaten," admitted batsman Michael Clarke. "But we are still confident we will come out on top."

Live on Sky Sports 1, 2.30pm

NatWest Series results: The Oval: Eng bt Bang, 10 wkts; Cardiff: Bang bt Aus, 5 wkts; Bristol: Eng bt Aus, 3 wkts; Trent Bridge: Eng bt Bang, 168 runs.

To play: Today (Chester-le-Street): Eng v Aus, day/night; Sat (Old Trafford): Aus v Bang; Sun ( Headingley): Eng v Bang; 28 June (Edgbaston): Eng v Aus, d/n; 30 June (Canterbury): Aus v Bang; 2 July (Lord's): Final.