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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Freddie is fine, assures Vaughan

Freddie is fine, assures Vaughan

By Ken Borland
January 12, 2005 19:40 IST
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England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be fit to bowl in the fourth Test against South Africa starting at the Wanderers on Thursday.

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Flintoff suffered a side strain during the third Test in Cape Town last week and bowled for the first time during a middle practice on Wednesday.

"Freddie is fine. He had a bowl in the middle and has been declared fully fit to take a full part in the Test match," England captain Michael Vaughan told reporters on Wednesday.

"He is a crucial part of our team -- I thought he was our best bowler in Cape Town -- and at 1-1

in the series, missing Freddie would be a huge blow. He is a real big threat to the batsmen," Vaughan said.

Vaughan said he was looking forward to the special atmosphere of the Wanderers, which hosted the World Cup final in 2003, even though England's last visit to South African cricket's premier ground started disastrously and ended in an innings defeat in 1999-'00.

Vaughan, making his Test debut, came to the crease on the first morning with England on two for two and watched from the non-striker's end as they plummeted further to two for four before he had faced a ball.

GREAT DETERMINATION

But the Yorkshireman batted with great determination to survive through to the lunch break and ended with 33.

"Nasser Hussain said afterwards that if I could play like that every time I would play 50 tests and he was right."

Vaughan hinted that paceman James Anderson, unused in the first Three tests, would come strongly into contention for selection on Thursday.

"He's been pushing hard all tour and is swinging it and looking good in the nets. He's making our life difficult when it comes to selection," Vaughan said.

Of his own poor form, an upbeat Vaughan said he had spent an intensive week working on his batting and was hopeful a big score was just around the corner.

"I've spent a lot of time in the nets this week and a lot of time talking with Duncan Fletcher about batting, and I certainly hope I've found the magic touch again."

England strike bowler Steve Harmison has also had an unsuccessful series but Vaughan was confident he would have an impact at the Wanderers.

"Steve's obviously not hit his straps as he would have liked but the ball's coming out nicely and I'm sure a match-winning spell from him is just around the corner," Vaughan said.

"As a team we haven't played anywhere near our best cricket and intensity is our big word, the main thing, we're taking into this game."

England were thrashed by 196 runs in the third Test at Newlands and the previous Test in Durban was drawn. England began the series by beating South Africa by seven wickets in Port Elizabeth.

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Ken Borland
Source: REUTERS
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