COUNTING down for Andrew Flintoff lift-off.

English Cricket and its supporters can be forgiven for frothing at the prospect of Lancashire's man mountain mounting the Test match stage.

But is that expectancy justified for Flintoff's eagerly awaited England debut at Trent Bridge today?

Lancastrians, in particular, can take pride that the latest product of their conveyer belt has received international recognition.

(The fact that that the English and Lancashire Cricket Boards feel that that conveyor belt needs to be dismantled in favour of a Premier League is another separate and emotive issue.)

Sceptics, however, would suggest that any words of caution emitting from the Red Rose county stem from a bitterness that Flintoff's absence might ruin Lancashire's chances of winning their first championship since Fred Flintstone was in nappies.

But I still feel the inclusion of 'Freddie' in the England set-up is premature.

He has only played 16 first class games and 503 runs in 13 innings - with just one hundred against Northants - this season is no great shakes.

Flintoff has yet to complete a full season in county cricket and only averaged 22.9 last summer. To talk of him as an all-rounder is like calling David Beckham a well-rounded individual.

Flintoff's bowling is little more than mediocre at county level at present.

There is nothing wrong with gambling on potential, providing that promise is founded on good cricketing theory.

Too many England hopefuls are drafted in from county oblivion only to be discarded just as quickly when the rigours of the Test game prove too demanding.

Flintoff has the ability to change the course of a game.

But to ask someone so young to rescue England's series from the grasps of the likes of Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock is stretching the horses for courses theory to breaking point.

It is illuminating that the England camp have praised Lancashire's nurturing of Flintoff's talent through his extended period of injury.

The pity is that David Lloyd and England could not display similar protective tendencies at a key time in the player's development.

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

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