Flintoff may bowl in Champions Trophy

LONDON, Sep 27 (Reuters) England captain Andrew Flintoff has not ruled out bowling in next month's Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India when he makes his comeback after the ankle operation which ended his season prematurely.

All-rounder Flintoff, who will lead his country at the Champions Trophy and on the subsequent Ashes tour of Australia, has not played since the third test against Sri Lanka in June.

''My rehabilitation programme was meant to stop in mid-October and that's when the cricket starts,'' Flintoff told reporters today.

''Fingers crossed, if everything goes to plan hopefully I will bowl. But it's just wait and see.'' Flintoff, who was speaking before a signing session of his new book ''Freddie My World'', said he was confident his ankle would stand up to the rigours of the Champions Trophy, the Ashes series and next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

''The operation was a success, and something that was needed, so going into a test series my ankle and my body are as fit as they have been for, probably, ever,'' he said.

Flintoff, who succeeded Michael Vaughan as England captain after the Yorkshireman suffered a serious knee injury, said he would try to emulate Vaughan's approach to last year's successful Ashes campaign.

''The way Michael captained the side and the basic principles that he used, I will be trying to do the same,'' he said.

''He wanted us to enjoy playing cricket and have no fear of failing and enjoy each other's company. I will be working down those lines as well, I will probably put my stamp on it as the series goes on.'' Flintoff said the Ashes series opening in Brisbane on Nov.

23 would probably be the biggest ever. Australia, who relinquished the Ashes last year for the first time in 18 years, have not been beaten at home since the 1992-93 season when they lost to West Indies.

''I am very proud and very excited,'' he said. ''I have not played a lot of cricket this summer and I want to get back on the pitch.

''Playing Australia at home, having played against them last year, is tough cricket. We are going to have to play better than we did last time and we realise that.

''It's going to be a tough winter. It's going to be one to be enjoyed, getting the chance to play in the Ashes in Australia and the chance to go to the West Indies, it's a tough challenge but I think it will be the best winter of our lives.'' Reuters DH GC1921