Mike Yardy boosted his chances of playing in England's opening game in the ICC Champions Trophy on Sunday with another impressive all-round display yesterday.

The Sussex star scored 44 from 52 balls as England recovered from 164-5 to post 295-8 in their final warm-up game against a Rajasthan XI in Jaipur.

Yardy missed out on a half century when he was caught in the deep trying to raise the tempo but not before he had added 72 alongside fellow spinner Jamie Dalrymple.

The 25-year-old then returned tidy figures of 1-17 from six overs as the hosts were dismissed for 151.

Dalrymple also picked up two wickets and the pair of international newcomers were singled out for praise from skipper Andrew Flintoff after the match.

"They have made an impression straight away," Flintoff enthused.

"It's nice to have players who give you depth, hopefully they can keep improving because I hope they will become important members of our team."

While the performances of Yardy and Dalrymple caught the eye it was the return of Flintoff from injury which attracted the most attention.

The allrounder raised a few eyebrows by coming in up the order at No.3 and cracked 59 off 53 balls in a second-wicket partnership of exactly 100 with Ian Bell.

Flintoff's ability to beat the infield with his sheer power resulted in the ball scuttling to the boundary eight times from Flintoff's bat inside the first two power plays while he also flicked a six off his pads with consummate ease.

Afterwards, however, he refused to confirm where he would bat in the three group matches of this event, his first international action since the Test series against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer.

"You look at the depth of batting in the side and there are all different ways we can use the order," Flintoff said.

"That is something myself and the coach will discuss, there are a number of different routes we can go down, and it is about where is the best place, not just for myself, but for the rest of the lads too.

"Whether I bat one, two, three, four, five, six or seven I am not bothered, I am just glad to be playing again.

"It is nice to get back into the middle, it was a long summer.

"When you have a lay-off like that sometimes you take it for granted you are always going to be playing.

"It makes you realise how much you miss it and how much you enjoy it, so it was nice to get out there and score a few runs."

There were also promising returns for bowlers James Anderson and Steve Harmison following injury as the new-ball duo reduced the hosts to 20-3.

Sajid Mahmood ensured the wickets continued to tumble by claiming three victims while Jon Lewis picked up a solitary scalp before Yardy and Dalrymple were introduced.

The only bowler not to see any action was Flintoff as he eases himself back following surgery on his left ankle.

"I've bowled in the nets and I am quite pleased where I am at, to be honest. I feel I am at about 70 per cent and I have had no ill effects from the ankle," he said.

"I will build it up over the next few weeks; I know everyone is asking when I am going to bowl, exact dates, but at this moment in time I can't say.

"It is something we are taking day by day, something we have a plan for with the medical team.

"We are seeing how I respond from upping it a little bit at a time."

Scoreboard: England 295-8 (J W M Dalrymple 79 no, A Flintoff 59, I R Bell 53) v Rajasthan Cricket Association XI 151 (S I Mahmood 3-22).