Bumble the Romanticist

Not sure if you have been watching England V Bangladesh much, especially the Old Trafford Test, but there was one thing off the field that caught my attention.

Andrew Flintoff.

He is targeting a return in July/August for Lancashire's seconds and then firsts but due to obvious reasons hasn't set out an "x" date.

"Freddie" is 32 now and you would imagine hasn't got that much time, if any, left at international level and probably not that much even at Lancashire due to constant injuries, injections and operations.

He has not ruled out an international return with a chance being on the 2011 World Cup and he has talked about life after Cricket.

While the pundits were chatting they had this piece on Flintoff focussing on his academy but also his cricketing future and after the report his future was debated.

And David "Bumble" Lloyd suggested his return for Ashes cricket - "just patch him up for a couple of tests" - I think was his line.

Not everyone agrees that Flintoff will now even make it back into the England side and I can see why, we have just won the World Twenty20 and are doing pretty damn well at the moment.

And, technically, Fred has retired from Test Cricket but I remember the "old" Freddie who you could throw the ball to when all the rest where doing nothing and somehow, from somewhere he would do the job.

Currently, England have James Anderson as their main strike bowler - no qualms with that, Stuart Broad, a little inexperienced and unreliable but he's decent and then it's Tim Bresnan who did well in Bangladesh and Twenty20 but Australia's a different animal.

Ryan Sidebottom who seems to be fading injury wise but a useful option with his left arm seam, Steven Finn, a promising youngster but unproven at International level (except against Bangladesh), Shazhad only played 1 game so can't comment on and Harmison is still an option for experience and the bounce he gets.

It's a bit thin on the ground isn't it for proven wicket-takers?

If, just if, Flintoff can stay fit for a few games for Lancashire and do fairly well I would ask the question to the big man, if he wants to play Test Cricket in Aus one final time. It would lift the team, the county and strike fear into Aussie hearts.

I may be dreaming as a lot of signs point against this happening but I hope Freddie has one last crack, if his body can sustain it, at the Aussies at Test Match Level and improves our chances of hanging onto that urn.