Cricket: Flintoff may yet be on Champions Trophy duty

Talismanic al-rounder Andrew Flintoff looks certain to return to cricket ahead of schedule by featuring in next month's Champions Trophy tournament in India. Flintoff, continuing his rehabilitation programme in Portugal, is recovering ahead of schedule and is now being considered as part of the 14-man Champions Trophy squad. "There has been talk about him in the initial stages of playing as a batsman, but assuming he doesn't have any problems with his rehabilitation he will definitely be in the shake-up," David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, confirmed.

Lancashire's title hopes again appeared to be slipping away as their final day against Warwickshire was washed out at Blackpool. This left Sussex eyeing up a vital win against Hampshire but, despite Jason Lewry taking an early wicket, they spent most of the day in the Hove pavilion.

However, frustration with the weather was not only a feature of the Division One chalengers as the game between Yorkshire and Middlesex was also caled off due to downpours at another seaside town. The stalemate at Scarborough leaves both sides rooted to the bottom of the table and David Byas, Yorkshire's director of cricket, said: "We played some positive cricket and our two leg-spinners, Adil Rashid and Mark Lawson, are very exciting prospects indeed."

The same fate also befel Division Two strugglers Northamptonshire who suffered a draw against Derbyshire. While poor weather frustrated Leicestershire and Somerset at Grace Road and Essex drew with Worcestershire at New Road.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have announced an additional limited overs series in 2007. England will now play an extra two Twenty20 matches and 10 one-day i nternationals.

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