POOR old Freddie Flintoff.

The injury-plagued Lancashire all-rounder was dragged half-way round the world for a third time in a month to act as cover for England's walking wounded ahead of the three Test series against Pakistan.

Eager to impress and justify his return to the bosom of the squad, the now specialist batsman strode out to face a Pakistan Board XI and then promptly wandered back to the pavilion a solitary ball later having snicked his first delivery into the slips.

It always was a bowlers' game.