Flintoff in flap after golden duck

9:52am Friday 25th April 2008

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Andrew Flintoff has a maximum eight more chances to go into the Lord's Test with runs under his belt, after yesterday's first-ball duck against Somerset.

Flintoff, hoping to make his first England appearance against New Zealand next month since a fourth bout of surgery on his left ankle last autumn, has impressed as a bowler on his comeback so far.

But the all-rounder is likely to need runs as well as wickets if he is to convince the selectors to pick him to face the Kiwis in the first match of a three-Test series.

Instead, he fell immediately to a good ball from Somerset seamer Peter Trego on the second afternoon of the LV Division One match at Old Trafford.

Trego - who had just bowled opener Paul Horton (64) - sent Flintoff packing with a perfectly-pitched length ball which left him, on the front-foot defence.

The edge was safely collected by wicketkeeper Craig Kieswetter, as Lancashire replied to Somerset's 238 all out with 221 for nine on a rain-shortened day.

For Trego and Kieswetter, it was a measure of revenge - they both fell to Flintoff in a heartening bowling performance from him on Wednesday.

"Anyone can nick a ball early on in their innings," said Trego, reflecting on the prize wicket which put him on a hat-trick in a see-saw contest which reached stumps on day two with Lancashire 221 for nine in reply to Somerset's 238 all out.

"But his bowling is outstanding," he added of a man who is playing only his second first-class match since undergoing a fourth bout of surgery on his left ankle last autumn.

"I obviously don't know how he's feeling physically. But if he feels fit, I'm pretty sure he'll be straight on that team sheet to face New Zealand - because he's a serious bowler."