ANDREW Flintoff will be given all the time he needs to complete his rehabilitation from ankle surgery, according to England's new chief selector.

Geoff Miller wants to ensure that the Lancashire all-rounder only comes back into the England side when he is ready.

Flintoff is recovering from a fourth operation and is not expected to make his return to international duty until the summer.

"He's been very happy with his last operation," Miller told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek. "He's coming through extremely well with his rehab.

"We won't rush into anything. He's too vital a position to rush it and for it to go wrong again.

"He's keen to get back and we're keen to have him back. When it's right on both sides, we'll look at it."

Miller, who will travel with the England squad to New Zealand for next month's one-day series, heads a four-man selection committee that also comprises head coach Peter Moores and part-timers Ashley Giles and James Whitaker.

Final

And the former Derbyshire spinner says he will have the final say on selection issues.

"If it came to a 2-2 (tie), the decision would be mine but hopefully it won't come down to that," he said.

"I think basically we've got the same kind of minds."

Miller, who has taken over from David Graveney, believes the future is bright for English cricket.

"We're in a bit of a transition," he added. "We've got some quality players in the side and some exciting youngsters coming through.

"In one-day cricket, there's been a bit of an upward curve recently with wins against Sri Lanka and India so that's looking promising.

"We've just got to get back on an even keel on the Test scene and I've no doubt we're capable of doing that."

Tweet