A WARMING winter sun greeted Lancashire's cricketers at Brockhall - but Andy Flintoff is just a month away from facing a far more heated environment.

All-rounder Flintoff was part of the Lancashire county squad who used Blackburn Rovers Academy coaching centre for pre-season training on Tuesday, but the 26-year-old is due to join the England squad for the coming tour of South Africa next month.

It is a challenge he is looking forward to, but for the time being the Preston-born player, known throughout the game as 'Freddie', is enjoying the camaraderie of being in the Lancashire camp.

It is rare for Flintoff, and his England squad colleague Jimmy Anderson, to be involved with the Red Rose squad for any prolonged period, but county team manager Mike Watkinson has been working with his players ever since the start of December as they build up for the summer campaign.

As part of their preparation Lancashire have been looking to provide variety in the training programme - hence the trip to Brockhall.

"It was a good experience and Rovers have got a very good set-up," said Flintoff.

"Given the fact that we have been doing gym work, I think the lads were glad to have the chance to do something a little different.

And he added with a grin: "I'm a Preston lad so in some ways this was playing on enemy territory, but it really was a great experience to come and work at this kind of set-up and play football where a Premiership team trains."

Watkinson was pleased that his squad were handed the chance to add a competitive edge to their pre-season work and Flintoff admitted that there were a few people out on the Brockhall playing fields eager to show what they could do.

"There were a few out there who still fancy their chances of being footballers," smiled Flintoff.

"But to be honest it was really just fun - we are not the best!

"Really it was just about us getting together as a squad and to get some work done on our fitness.

"I know that I am not going to be involved in the county game for at least the first month due to tour commitments, but it is important to be training with the lads.

"And it is a great opportunity to ensure that my fitness is right before I head out on tour."

England's games out in the West Indies start in the opening week of March and, after a difficult tour in Sri Lanka prior to the Christmas break, Flintoff is not beginning to predict what the outcome of the series will be.

The West Indies have had a torrid time on tour in South Africa and Flintoff saw similarities between the sides who will meet head to head in the Caribbean.

"To me it doesn't really matter too much what has happened to the West Indies out in South Africa, what we have got to address is the fact that it is a long time since an England touring side has done well out in the Caribbean," said Flintoff.

"In many ways all the signs suggest that it should be a very close series.

"They are an improving team, and then so are we, so we are hoping that it will be a good competitive series.

"They have some very special players in the likes of Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, so we know it will be a tough place to go and that there will be some top quality cricket."

The Caribbean will set a whole new catalogue of trials for an England side looking to begin to bond under new skipper Michael Vaughan.

On the sub-continent Vaughan's charges struggled to get on top of games, but the Windies is a different scenario.

"The tracks are quicker, but not that fast out in the Windies these days," explained Flintoff.

"We will see just how they are playing when we get out there, but there is no doubt it will be very different, in terms of conditions, than those we faced in Sri Lanka.

"But that is what Test cricket is all about and makes it so enjoyable and such a challenge.

"It is a whole set of different conditions, facing another set of talented players and I am really looking forward to it."