Flintoff is optimistic of four-day return after surgery's success

ANDREW FLINTOFF intends to play four-day cricket for Lancashire this summer, having initially insisted he would only feature in the one-day forms of the game.

The England all-rounder will miss this year's Indian Premier League after undergoing a further operation to his right knee, but the surgery has caused him to reassess his future plans.

The 32-year-old retired from Test cricket following the victorious Ashes series last summer, citing the stresses on his body, and had planned to make himself a one-day specialist with Lancashire, England and the IPL's Chennai Super Kings.

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Immediately after the series win over Australia, Flintoff underwent a micro-fracture operation on his right knee and after a routine arthroscopy operation this week to check the healing, he was encouraged to try all forms of the game when he returns to action later this year.

"My goals have changed since last summer," said Flintoff, who faces another six months on the sidelines – thus ruling him out of the IPL – following his latest operation.

"I trust the surgeon, Andy Williams, implicitly and he is very pleased with the progress of the micro-fracture operation.

"When I first had the operation I did not think I would be able to play anything other than one-day cricket.

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"But the news of my recovery has led me to believe I may play in all forms of cricket for Lancashire.

"First and foremost I have to prove to myself that I can regain my fitness and perform for Lancashire. My first love remains playing for Lancashire and I want to help them win trophies and hopefully I can help them achieve that later this summer."

The decision to undergo another operation this week was taken in consultation with his surgeon and took into account that he would not be able to fulfil the second year of his contract with Chennai in the IPL.

But Flintoff insisted his desire to return to the England fold came first and he is determined to return to his talismanic best.

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"If I am going to go through another six months of hard rehabilitation and training for long hours, I need a big incentive to be the driving force of that and playing for Lancashire and England again will become that," he added. "I have been watching England playing well in South Africa and it has made me realise how much I have missed cricket."