Flintoff assures he will be fit well ahead of Ashes

London, Aug 3 (UNI) Recuperating from last week's ankle surgery, England's Ashes skipper Andrew Flintoff today assured his fans that he would be fit at least one month before the first Test against Australia in Brisbane from 23 November.

The 28-year-old talismanic all-rounder told The Sun, ''I'll hopefully be fit to play again 12 weeks after the operation, mid or late October.

''That should be plenty of time to be ready for the first Test,'' he said, adding the Brisbane Test was his ''big target''.

Flintoff, meanwhile, is yet to consider playing grade cricket in Australia to regain his match-fitness ahead of the Ashes series.

''There's been a lot of talk that I might play some grade cricket in Australia or get a game somewhere else to help regain match fitness.

''But I'm not looking that far ahead. At the moment, I'm sitting on my couch wearing a big boot and holding a pair of crutches,'' he said.

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