Rocky Flintoff out of early season with back injury

Lancashire batter Rocky Flintoff will miss the first part of the County Championship season because of a back injury.

The county say the 16-year-old has suffered a "lumbar stress reaction", which is why he was left out of the squad for their Division Two opener against Middlesex at Lord's.

He felt discomfort in his back during pre-season and is being rested so the injury does not worsen while also having rehabilitation.

Flintoff, son of former England captain and all-rounder Andrew, became Lancashire's youngest first-class cricketer last season.

He has played five first-class matches and seven List A games for Lancashire.

Flintoff, who turns 17 on Monday, made a century for England Lions against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane in January, having become the youngest player to hit a century for England Under-19s last summer.

His older brother Corey, 19, signed a two-year rookie contract with Kent last month.

Lancashire have seven County Championship Division Two fixtures before the mid-season break on 27 May.