Andrew Flintoff came through his first serious bowling test since his latest ankle surgery with no ill effects at the Brit Oval.

England all-rounder Flintoff, aiming to return to Test action against New Zealand next month, sent down three spells for Lancashire in the County Championship contest against Surrey and finished the opening day with figures of 10.3-3-24-1.

The 30-year-old underwent his fourth operation on his left ankle last autumn and had not bowled in four-day cricket since the second week of August last summer.

Although Surrey stacked up 242 for two on a day shortened at each end by overnight rain and bad light, with Mark Ramprakash hitting his 98th first-class hundred and Mark Butcher unbeaten on 80, the sight of Flintoff pounding in was heartening for English cricket.

"He has been champing at the bit, he hasn't played for a long time," said Lancashire captain Stuart Law. "He is just happy to be out on the cricket field again.

"He has come through with no ill effects at this stage and we are quite happy with the way he let them go.

"It's always good having a guy like Fred in your side, he gives nothing but 110% and that is all you can ask.

"He got it down at good pace, he took a wicket, and so I don't think he's going to be complaining too much.

"Just to get those first couple of spells unscathed and come back at the end and hit the gloves as hard as ever is a good sign."

Flintoff was in his third spell when bad light terminated things 45 minutes early.

He was watched by chairman of selectors Geoff Miller, who will no doubt have been pleased to see the country's premier all-rounder used sparingly.

"It's in his hands," revealed Law. "He tells me what he is feeling and we go from there.

"He didn't want to come off when I first took him off!"