'I've been going back to basics' - Flintoff

It's been a while since Andrew Flintoff has appeared to enjoy cricket, but a smile was back as he struck 66 on his return to Lancashire colours. The innings in the Friends Provident Trophy, against Northamptonshire, was his first half-century since the unbeaten 72 at Hobart against New Zealand in January.

Following a week's holiday after England's exit from the World Cup, Flintoff was back in the Old Trafford nets trying to recover the batting form which had proved illusive for the past year. "I'm really pleased with the way the week has gone," he said after his innings and a four-over spell which went for just nine runs. "I've been able to just get my head down and get back to working hard at my game and get back to where I want to be as a cricketer.

"I've been working in the nets all week and getting better. I've spent a lot of time on the bowling machine with Neil Fairbrother [his manager] and a lot of time in the nets with Mike Watkinson [Lancashire coach] as well. Progressively through the week I've felt a lot better and going out to the middle was just an extension of that."

It was by no means the toughest examination Flintoff will have but after a steady start where he was content to work the gaps there were glimpses of confidence returning during the 84-ball innings. And although a packed international season starts soon he felt a return to county action could only help.

"You can have a rest but I want to bat well and I thought the best way to do that was to get in the nets then get out and play. I'm pleased with the way it's gone but now I've got to build on that going into the first Test at Lord's."

He added that he always continued to back his ability. "I've got a good technique, I've just been going back to basics. The one thing I wanted to do was spend some time in the middle and have a knock." Flintoff's run-in towards the first Test gets tougher now, with a Friends Provident encounter against Durham and England team-mates Steve Harmison ("Harmy's been telling me what he's going to do to me," said Flintoff), Liam Plunkett and Paul Collingwood on Monday, before the Championship clash against a Hampshire side that includes Kevin Pietersen and Shane Warne.