The Kent batsman last played Test cricket in 2005 but good form for Kent, including 90 against Northamptonshire on Tuesday, has helped his cause.

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The Australian-born 37-year-old qualified as a British citizen in 2005 having played county cricket with Essex and Lancashire for more than 10 years.

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The 31-year-old, who took over from Brian Lara in March 2005, informed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of his intentions in a letter.

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The former played for South Africa A between 2000 and 2005 and has a wealth of experience in domestic cricket in South Africa, with a career tally of over 300 first-class wickets plus over 150 wickets in List A games.

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Cricket Ireland hopes the fact that he previously played 50 times for Ireland between 1997 and 2005 will work in his favour as officials apply for an exemption.

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Flintoff, the star performer in England's epic Ashes triumph of 2005, announced before the Lord's Test that he was going to quit Test cricket after this series because of his ongoing injury problems.

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