ANDREW Flintoff is in the squad for Lancashire's four-day game against champions Sussex at Liverpool starting on Tuesday - and he could figure in the Twenty20 finals day at Edgbaston on Saturday.

Flintoff made 25 in a 35-run win over Sri Lanka A at Aigburth on Sunday, and afterwards coach Mike Watkinson announced he would be in line to face Sussex as a batsman only at the same venue.

Watkinson, who admitted last week he has no idea when Freddie will be fit to bowl, said: "He will be in the squad for Tuesday. There were no complaints at all and everything seems fine.

"The ball was nipping around a bit early on, and it was difficult to make scoring shots.

"He survived an early lbw shout that could have spoiled his day, but he will be happy to have got his 20-odd runs because in the context of the game it wasn't a bad result for him."

Character

Freddie is absolutely desperate to feature in Saturday's Twenty20 Cup finals day that kicks off with a semi-final against Gloucestershire.

"He's a big character, and he's a big part of the team when he comes back into that dressing room," said Saj Mahmood, who finished with 5-16 off seven overs to bowl the Sri Lankans out for 105.

It was quite ironic that Mahmood was praising Flintoff's contribution because it was his own five-wicket bag that really changed the face of a match that was watched by more than 1,900.

Mahmood removed Test pair Michael Vandort and Kaushal Lokuarachchi as he reduced Sri Lanka to 47-6. Simon Marshall and Gary Keedy both picked up two wickets.

Mahmood added: "I felt in pretty good rhythm. I just tried to get the ball in the right areas, put pressure on the batsman and get the wickets that way."

It was the 25-year-old's first five-wicket haul in one-day cricket to help the Red Rose defend a below par 140.

Mahmood is now almost certain to play against Sussex alongside Flintoff, who after fielding for 35.5 overs, went into the nets to amble in at pedestrian pace to bowl a few balls.

Meanwhile England will resume against India on day four 240 runs behind with 10 second innings wickets left.