Flintoff out for season

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has been ruled out of competitive cricket for the rest of the season by his county Lancashire.

The 32-year-old was due to make his comeback this week from a year on the sidelines after two knee operations. However, he was pulled out of both a limited-overs game on Monday and a three-day match, starting on Tuesday, for the second team against Yorkshire in Crosby, Liverpool.

"Following consultation with Andrew Flintoff, Andy Williams (Flintoff's surgeon) and our own medical team, Lancashire County Cricket Club have confirmed Flintoff will not be returning to competitive cricket for the remainder of the 2010 season," said a statement by Lancashire.

Flintoff has not played since a major operation on his right knee last August and he underwent further surgery in January.

This latest setback means Flintoff will not play for the Chennai Super Kings in next month's Champions League and raises major doubts over whether he will be available for England's one-day squad for the winter tour of Australia.

"Whilst Andrew has made significant progress, the combined opinion is that he is not quite ready for a return to cricket," said Lancashire's cricket director Mike Watkinson.

"He will continue his rehabilitation into the winter months and we will constantly monitor and review his progress so that he is better equipped for a return to action."