Another injury setback for Andrew Flintoff has not derailed the Queensland Bulls’ bold plan to team up the English star with fellow all-rounder Andrew Symonds this summer.
Despite being ruled out for the rest of the 2010 English county season by Lancashire this week, Flintoff is still being pursued by the Bulls for the upcoming Big Bash Twenty20 series Down Under.
Flintoff, 32, was due to make his comeback this week for Lancashire’s 2nd XI after a year on the sidelines following two knee operations, but pulled out.
The latest setback appears to have ruled him out of action for the Chennai Super Kings in next month’s Champions League and throws doubt over his availability for England’s one-day squad for their tour of Australia.
But Queensland Cricket chief executive Graham Dixon said the Bulls would still seek out his services for the Big Bash.
“We are aware that he is continuing his rehabilitation with Lancashire and are acutely aware that this will be his priority for the immediate future,” Dixon said in a statement.
“We know that Andrew has been the object of some interest from a number of states, including us, and that he has publicly expressed a desire to play in the Big Bash.
“But at the moment, he is still working on his recovery.
“We’re encouraged by the progress of our talks at this point in time and will continue to keep the lines of communication open with his management team.”
Dixon’s statement came after England’s Daily Telegraph newspaper on Tuesday claimed Flintoff was pursuing a deal worth more than $430,000 where he would play for New Zealand province Northern Districts then back up for Queensland in January.
Flintoff has also been linked to South Australia and Victoria.
The English all-rounder has not played since a major operation on his right knee last August following his 2009 Ashes heroics, plus further surgery in January.
However, the Bulls are keeping their fingers crossed a fully fit Flintoff will link with Queensland for their domestic Twenty20 campaign, in a potentially damaging combination with Symonds.
Former Australian Test and ODI star Symonds has agreed to again play for the Bulls’ Twenty20 team this summer.
Queensland’s overseas player last season was New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who was flown in for two crunch games.
The 2010-11 domestic Twenty20 tournament will start on December 30.
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