Cricket: FREDDIE READY TO RISE AGAIN - LLOYD; Flintoff can be cricket 'great one.

Byline: By DAVID JONES 

ANDREW FLINTOFF can re-establish himself as one of the "great ones" of international cricket.

That is the viewof one of the world's former batting greats, Sir Clive Lloyd, speaking ahead of the npower England-West Indies Test series which beganat Lord's today.

Flintoff, considered the world's best all-rounder when England regained the Ashes, has had his ups and downs since those glory days in 2005..

He was captain of the ill-fated England team that was whitewashed 5-0 last winter as the Aussies recovered the Ashes, but then helped England pull off a surprise win in the one-day triangular series that followed.

However, poor performances at the World Cup, coupled with the "pedalo incident" and being stripped of the vice-captaincy, has hit Flintoff hard.

But Lloyd believes the Lancashire hero must start to reproduce the star performances of the past.

"I think he realises the importance of stepping up as he has done in the past," said Lloyd. "He has had problems, but he has got toproducehis best more often.

"He is right up there as one of the top players. He is still young with a lot of years ahead of him and he can become one of the great ones.

"When he was captain he did fairly well, but England realise he is someone who plays freely when he doesn't have the problems of being captain."

Lloyd, celebrated skipper of the greatWest Indiansides of 1975-85, had players of the calibre of Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Alvin Kallicharran to call on, plus a battery of fast bowlers like Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, Joel Garner and CurtlyAmbrose.

Sadly, West Indies cricket is on a downer at present, failing to establish themselves at Test level and failing miserably during the World Cup on home ground. Tomake matters worse, world class batting star and captain BrianLara has retired.

Lloyd acknowledged: "It's not the same sort of cricket. It's a newera, we have a newcaptain and we have a lot of younger players. We have a couple of quick guys, but not of the calibre of those of the past.

"BrianLarawas one of the best players ever. Youdon't fill the gap easily."

But he believes the ingredients are there for an exciting series. "England will be keen to rid themselves of the ghosts of Australia and will want to prove a formidable side. They are above the West Indies at Test level and will start as favourites."

Reflecting on his country's World Cup disappointments, Lloyd went on: "We qualified for the Super Eights but did not play very well. I don't think we give encouragement to young peoplewhenwe don't playwell.

"We are embarking on an enthusiastic approach to get a lot of youngsters to play the game.We are trying to develop them through the academies."

How a West Indies line-up denuded of Lara stands up to the pace of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard and Flintoff, during the series remains to be seen, but Lloyd is hopeful that one or two of his countrymen emerge as potentialworld stars of the future.

LANCASHIRE have announced that both Day2 (Friday) and Day3(Saturday) aresold out for the England-West Indies Third Test at Old Trafford from June 7-11.

Tickets arestill available for the Thursday and Sunday, but the yareselling quickly.

You can purchase tickets online atwww.lccc.co.ukor by calling the LCCC ticket office on 0870 0625050.

CAPTION(S):

RECEIVING ATTENTION: Andrew Flintoff will recover from his dip in form, saysWest Indies legend Clive Lloyd