Lancashire captain Stuart Law claimed Andrew Flintoff should return for England "as soon as he is ready" after helping his side to victory earlier today.

Flintoff finally rediscovered some batting form to hit a swashbuckling 62 not out as Lancashire beat Sussex by eight wickets at Hove.

It was a welcome knock from the all-rounder, who only recently returned from a six-week lay-off with a side strain and whose previous three innings going into the match were all ducks.

Flintoff also bowled 34 hostile, albeit wicketless, overs in the match to enhance his claims ahead of the first Test against South Africa next week.

National selector Geoff Miller and coach Peter Moores have already hinted that Flintoff will not be named in the squad for Lord's, but continuing improved form could make the second Test a possibility.

Law said: "He bowled superbly well against Sussex even though he didn't take a wicket on a track that never helped the bowlers.

"And he's a great bloke to have in your dressing room. He adds so much to a team even without contributing cricket-wise.

"I gave him the opportunity to bat number four in the second innings and he said, Give it to me, I want it'.

"Sure, he had a bit a luck to get started but he needed that after things went so much against him earlier in the match.

"We wanted to get the runs as quickly as we could and if Fred starts going nothing can stop him and that's the way it was.

"Selfishly, I wouldn't mind if they (England) left him out for the whole series.

"That would mean him playing more matches for Lancashire.

"But he's a world-class performer. He's a guy for whom you turn up and watch cricket."