Cricket-Flintoff acknowledges "important hour" as England battle

By Richard Sydenham

BIRMINGHAM, England, July 31 (Reuters) - England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff said his feisty bowling spell on the second day of the third test against South Africa on Thursday made all the rehab work after his fourth ankle operation worthwhile.

"It was an important hour for us," Flintoff told reporters. "We scrapped all day and we needed wickets to get back into this match. I'm reaping all the hard work I've done with (Lancashire physiotherapist) Dave Roberts after my ankle operation."

Flintoff, who got England back into contention at Edgbaston, is playing just his second test in 19 months after an injury nightmare but is proving to be their spearhead in the series.

He finished the day with four for 68, including a hostile spell after tea that accounted for South Africa's top batsman Jacques Kallis.

South Africa closed on 256 for six, having carved out a lead of 25 runs, but another good spell from England's bowlers on Friday morning could limit the tourists' advantage.

The period of play before Flintoff bowled Kallis with a fast and late out-swinger was set up by an lbw appeal that umpire Aleem Dar rejected against the South African, which replays showed should have been out after hitting him on the toe.

ANGRY FLINTOFF