Flintoff return from injury delayed

AAP

ENGLAND star Andrew Flintoff has been forced to delay his long-awaited return from knee surgery.

Flintoff was set to play in a one-day match for Lancashire's second eleven against Yorkshire on Monday, but the all-rounder has been held back on the advice of his county's medical team.

The 32-year-old has had two knee operations since helping England win the Ashes against Australia in the final Test at the Oval last year.

He retired from Test cricket after that match, but he still hopes to play in one-day internationals for England, as well as representing his county in domestic action.

The positive news for Flintoff is Lancashire insist this latest delay is only a minor setback and it is believed he could still play in a three-day game against Yorkshire's reserves starting on Tuesday.

"Nothing's happened, it's just a case of them (medical staff) being happy with the level of conditioning around the knee and his general body so that when he does play he's at minimum risk of getting injured again," Lancashire coach Peter Moores told The Guardian.

"It's been a long rehab so far, and what they're making sure is that it's not rushed. It's got to be right.

"They think, at the moment, that he's not quite ready and ruled him out of the one-dayer because there is slightly more violent running round in a one-dayer. They'll assess where he is for the rest of the week."