Flintoff doesn't plan to make Australian grade appearance

Andrew Flintoff has ruled out playing grade cricket in Australia before the start of the Ashes series in November. Speculation Flintoff would arrive before the tour to test his recovery from ankle surgery was started last month by David Graveney, the England chairman of selectors, when he suggested ways of returning his group of injured players to action.

But a spokesperson for Flintoff's management company said in The Sydney Morning Herald the situation had "got completely blown out". "There hasn't been any plan to play in Australia," an International Sports Management spokesperson said. "There is nothing on the cards." Flintoff faces a 12-week recovery period from the surgery and last week said he hoped to be able to play a month before the first Test in Brisbane on November 23.

If Flintoff is fit he will arrive to defend the Ashes with the England team, which has its first warm-up match scheduled for Canberra on November 10. A host of Australian states offered invitations to Flintoff and his injured squad mates to prepare for the series in their local competitions.