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18:50 GMT, Monday, 7 July 2008 19:50 UK

Flintoff return inspires Anderson

England v South Africa, First npower Test
Dates: 10-14 July Start time 1100 BST Venue: Lord's
Coverage: Radio Four, 5 Live Sports Extra, BBCi and BBC Sport website

James Anderson celebrates after England beat New Zealand in June

England bowler James Anderson says Andrew Flintoff's return will spur the quick bowlers currently in the team to greater heights.

Flintoff was overlooked for Thursday's first Test against South Africa as he recovers from a side strain.

But Anderson said: "I think we all have to regard it as an extra incentive.

"It's not just Flintoff knocking on the door, there are others too and you've got to keep taking wickets regularly if you're going to keep your place."

He added: "You've got Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones back bowling well and people like Sajid Mahmood and Liam Plunkett desperate to get their places back.

"Everything we've done in the last year has been towards this series and the Australian one"
South Africa's Jacques Kallis

"It's not just Fred we're looking over our shoulders at, although he's obviously the biggest of the lot trying to get back.

"We know he's there but he's a completely different bowler to me so I'm just going to have to continue what I'm doing and if they pick him ahead of me then that's out of my hands."

Anderson admits he, Stuart Broad and Ryan Sidebottom have spoken about how 2005 Ashes heroes Flintoff, Jones, Harmison and Hoggard have all returned to form this summer.

"We were talking the other day about how the four pace bowlers from the 2005 Ashes are now all back bowling again, fit and taking wickets," said Anderson.

"From mine, Stuart's and Ryan's point of view we're hoping they don't get the chance to bowl again together for England.

"If we do keep them out of the team that obviously means we're doing well which has to be a good thing."

England are expected to name the same side for the sixth successive Test, becoming the first side in Test history to do so.

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"This series could be the most keenly-contested since the 2005 Ashes"
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South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis says he is desperate to win a Test series in England having come close in 1998 and 2003.

"There are three things I really want to achieve," said Kallis. "One is beating England in England, a second is beating Australia - and the third is winning the World Cup.

"We've come close in the past and made some silly mistakes at times when we shouldn't have.

"This time we hope we can learn from those mistakes and get the foot all the way in through the door, not just half way - and make sure we play those big moments better than England.

"We've worked hard on our game. Everything we've done in the last year has been towards this series and the Australian one still to come."


England squad:
Michael Vaughan (capt), Tim Ambrose (wkt), James Anderson, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Alastair Cook, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Ryan Sidebottom, Andrew Strauss, Chris Tremlett.

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (capt), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (wkt), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki.



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Related to this story:

Flintoff misses out on Test squad (03 Jul 08 |  England )
Jones 'close to England recall' (27 Jun 08 |  Worcestershire )
SA's Smith set to make first Test (27 Jun 08 |  South Africa )
SA recall Nel for England series (23 May 08 |  South Africa )
Vaughan focuses on tougher tests (08 Jun 08 |  England )
Vaughan 'key to England's future' (20 May 08 |  England )
South Africa in England in 2008 (14 Nov 07 |  Cricket )

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