England face selection poser

Ryan Sidebottom warms up this morning but he has not bowled since the Lord's Test

Buy this photo

Andrew Flintoff will return to Test cricket tomorrow against South Africa at Headingley Carnegie but the rest of England’s selection plans have hit a snag following post-Lord’s strains.

Preparations for the second match of the npower series have been complicated by prolonged stiffness in Ryan Sidebottom’s back, which has left the Yorkshireman doubtful, and a similar niggle for James Anderson.

Flintoff, 30, has not played Test cricket since the final Ashes match of 2006-07 and has not appeared in a home Test since the summer of 2006.

He was captain in both those contests but his new all-round role is designed to ease him back in and avoid too much public expectation.

England captain Michael Vaughan, leading his country for the 50th time in Tests tomorrow, was keen to integrate big-match player Flintoff at the earliest opportunity since he missed six weeks with a side strain.

Vaughan earlier announced Flintoff would bat at number seven, one position lower than during his last Test appearance.

“It is just a position we want Freddie to get settled in. We see him as having a long-term future in the team and it also relieves some pressure.

“At this stage, batting him at number six is quite high up and the pressure of him doing that, and the style of doing that, is slightly different.”

“I’ve always seen him more as a number seven - his style of play is very much suited to that position.

“Given the opportunity and that chance I think he can take the game away from the opposition from that position.

“He is happy there, he feels comfortable playing there at the minute and it takes a little of the pressure off him to go and express himself.”

England’s thinking on Flintoff may also have been influenced to some degree by the performances of Kiwi Jacob Oram - another of the world’s top all-rounders - at seven earlier this summer, having previously struggled a place higher up the order.

The England selectors added two pace bowlers to their 12-man squad today, Chris Tremlett called up initially due to Sidebottom’s immobility hours before Australian-raised swing bowler Darren Pattinson was engaged as a precautionary measure due to a similar back complaint from Anderson.

James Anderson lands on a crash mat during catching practice at the Headingley indoor centre

Buy this photo

England are confident Anderson will be passed fit but three consecutive days in the field might have taken its toll on Nottinghamshire’s Sidebottom, who has not bowled in two practice days at Leeds.

Vaughan wants Sidebottom, who on his comeback after a six-year absence took eight wickets in the convincing victory over West Indies on this ground last summer, to lead the attack.

The captain explained: “He’s an old pro, who comes from the old school.

“He’s had these stiff backs before and come through, and I really hope he does come through because at this ground, the way he bowled last year, and the way he swings the ball, means he is a key bowler.

“If he is not right he will be missed by our attack because of the options he offers.

“He still bowls very well at 80-81 miles per hour but I think in his own mind he wants to be back at 83-84 because that is the speed at which he gets that snappy swing, that late swing.

“He needs to be very confident in his own body to be able to do that, so he will make the decision in the morning.”

The toss becomes important to England as much for allowing the attack to recuperate as anything.

Vaughan added: “You have to make the right decision for the moment at Leeds, those decisions can be crucial.

“The pitches in Leeds have got better and better over the years, so we will have to wait and see what the conditions are like in the morning - but I would think both captains would be looking to bat.”