Flintoff's future

98 days to Cardiff: How do we ensure that Flintoff is at his peak when we attempt to wrest back the Ashes?

He has not taken five wickets in an innings nor hit a century since his last England glory days in 2005. The Ashes have disappeared and the men who threatened to lead the world rankings have lost captains and Tests. Desperate times; only the world's bankers have fared worse.

England need a major rethink. Is that possible for the ECB who appear to be hidebound by the central contract system on the one hand or so desperate that they propel bowlers like Darren Pattinson and Amjad Khan into action without pause for thought.

While I am on the subject of confused thinking, did you ever hear anything dafter than ECB employing head hunters to sort out a coach. Surely most of the ECB men who will make the final decision will have met, played against, dined with and shown round Lord's every one of the half dozen candidates.

Confused? I'll bet big, likeable, heroic Andrew Flintoff is.

I suggest the selectors sit him down, discuss the coming Ashes series with him in an adult way and then ask him - most politely as befits a treasured member of staff - to return to Lancashire until July to top up his wicket and sixes count for the biggest moment in the England calendar.

Sensational or sensible? There is no time to mess about. Don't forget the Ashes series ends in 145 days.