Flintoff considers St Annes return

Andrew Flintoff may be about to return to his roots this summer, by turning out for his old club side St Annes.

The dual Ashes-winning all-rounder has not picked up a bat or ball in anger since his retirement almost five years ago.

He has spent the intervening time turning his hand to boxing, along with a series of celebrity television appearances.

However, Flintoff announced last year that he might consider a Twenty20 appearance or two for the Northern League club with whom he began his career as a teenager before progressing to Lancashire and England.

This summer, at the age of 36, it seems he is giving the idea more serious thought.

St Annes captain Andy Kellett told the Manchester Evening News: "We got a message through his granddad last week that Andrew wants to play Twenty20 cricket for us this season.

"We have sent him a registration form and we are just waiting for him to send it back now.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that he can play because we know how busy his schedule is."

St Annes know any appearance by Flintoff is bound to put a few hundred on the gate, and are hoping he can revisit some of his big-hitting ways - with a little extra power to add for maturity.

"It will give us a massive boost in terms of crowd numbers if he does play," said Kellett.

"It would be great to have him back.

"As a 15-year-old, his shots were clearing the houses around the ground, so I can only imagine what he could do now because we have some short boundaries."