Cricket fans are likely to have to wait until August to see Andrew Flintoff in action for Penwortham.The double Ashes winner this week joined the Moore and Smalley Palace Shield club, five months after announcing his retirement from first-class cricket due to injury.
But with Flintoff having only just come off crutches after knee surgery, he won’t be gracing the Middleforth batting square just yet.
His signing still represents a major coup for Penwortham whose first XI side finished runners-up in the Palace Shield’s Premier Division last season.
The story has generated national interest, and when the 33-year-old is in a position to play again, his presence is certain to bolster attendances.
Flintoff opted to join Penwortham to give him the chance of playing alongside his older brother Chris who has re-joined the club for this campaign.
Chris played for them in 2007 and 2008, had a spell with Lancaster in the Northern League, before turning out for Whittingham and Goosnargh in the midweek Boddingtons League last season.
Penwortham skipper Wayne Maddock is delighted by Flintoff’s decision to join the club, but admits he isn’t ‘counting his chickens’ as to when the former England star will be back in action.
Maddock told the Evening Post: “We’ve got Freddie signed up and his registration has gone to the league for their approval.
“Freddie is injured at the moment, he’s had an operation when they had to break a bone in his leg to realign his knee.
“He’s just coming off the crutches this week so obviously he’s got a while to go yet.
“When he plays with us all depends on how his rehab goes.
“I’m not counting my chickens about seeing him play for us until we get him out there on to the pitch. I’m not going to build our season round one player.
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