'It gets in the way a little bit,' Flintoff said. 'After the Lord's Test my knee was a bit sore, but I have been icing it and getting treatment from Dave Roberts [the Lancashire physiotherapist]. I bowled in some discomfort at Lord's, but I still sent down my overs and got through.'

Although Flintoff sat out the game of football that precedes every practice, he was close to full pace Tuesday when he bowled on the outfield afterwards under the supervision of Kirk Russell, the England physiotherapist.

Flintoff subsequently batted and bowled in the nets with a belt-and-braces approach to his knee, which was heavily strapped with crepe bandaging beneath a standard elasticated support.