Andrew Flintoff returns to the England Test side after more than a year. Alastair Cook, the team's opening batsman, reveals the new delivery that Flintoff has worked on during his time out. He writes in the Telegraph:
When I faced Freddie on Wednesday, I was expecting him to push the ball across me, as he has always done in the past. So I was leaving one that started out wide - and suddenly it came booming back in and hit me on the knee. I was about three hours late on the shot, and was left hopping about in pain.
Allan Donald has called for the inclusion of Andre Nel in place of the left-arm spinner Paul Harris in the South African team for the second Test. Click here to read his article in the same paper.
In the Guardian Mike Selvey wonders whether Flintoff's return will disturb the ecology of a side that has been put together for a record six successive matches.
In the same paper, John Ashdown chats with Ian Bell about pedalos, pork pies and pints of Carling.
The New Zealand Herald looks back at the good and bad sports news of the week.
A good week for ...
Cricketing acronyms
Stunning news from the ECB this week, which is to launch the EPL T20 in a bid to rival the ICL and IPL. An ECB release said the tournament would replace Pro40. It will involve all 18 counties and two sides from overseas, probably the winners of IPL plus a side assembled by Texan billionaire Allen Stanford (RBs or Rich Bastards). No word yet on the fate of the ICL rebels, but when we hear we'll let you know ASAP.
