posted Jun 2, 2007

At the risk of being synical... could it n=be that this injury is quite timely, in order to let us forget about his pedalo embarrassment in the Windies???

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posted Jun 2, 2007

Beginning with the West Indies tour in 2004, in 38 tests Freddie has scored 2172 runs @ 38.10 with 3 100's and 18 50's and taken 145 wickets @ 27.16.

There aren't many players going around who could do that. Anyone who would say Flintoff isn't a matchwinner hasn't watched England play in the last few years.

However, it's unlikely Fred will ever be really fit enough to play consistently and he's can't bat at 6 in tests so I don't think he's going to pay a major part for England in the future, sadly. The same is true for Simon Jones.

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posted Jun 2, 2007

I think fast bowlers are crickets one of the main attraction. No doubt in the current world cricket few of them exist. Definately Flintof is liked by many. The amount of cricket we play
need to change. Otherwise,we will loose cricketers like Flintoff.
I do not think people will talk about our generation's fast bowlers, because we do not have the likes of Marshal, Imran, Lilly, Botham or Akram. As a true cricket fan I appreciated when Flintoff took Aussies with the help of Piterson.Icc should change the rules and make sure fast bowlers play a limited number of games.

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posted Jun 2, 2007

I really wonder if Flintoff is material for any future English test or one day side. I say this because of his recurring injuries and also his apparent off field behaviour evidenced at the World Cup. I suggest he adopt the approach of a number of Australian players and tender his retirement from international cricket. By doing this he would remove any embarassment the selectors may face and allow a new player to take his place.

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posted Jun 3, 2007

Yeah, I think it would be great if our best player retired.

Just great.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

Sorry Silk and any other Freddy fans, but Flintoff simply is not our best bowler any more.

If he was, we might have expected him to get into the top 10 bowlers in the WC, which he did not do.

While he would still make the England side if he was 100% fit, the fact is he will probably never recover fully from his ankle problems.

While he is still young, he has worn himself out now and we should be looking to develop new players, not persisting with someone who can't bat and shows the wrong attitude off the pitch.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

"Sorry Silk and any other Freddy fans, but Flintoff simply is not our best bowler any more. If he was, we might have expected him to get into the top 10 bowlers in the WC, which he did not do."

Cricket world cup stats - Flintoff took 23 wickets at 23.21 - A very good average for ODIs. Nearest Was Anderson with 18 wickets at 30.83, then Saj and Monty with only 15 wickets between them. Your logic is incredibly flawed, as he was not in top 10 for WC he is not our best bowler?? So if none of the England bowlers get in teh top 10 then nobody is the best? Does that mean nobody is the worst either? Plunkett (with 4 WC wickets at an a average of 40) will be pleased! Check your stats and think about what you're saying before making such ridiculous statements.

"While he would still make the England side if he was 100% fit, the fact is he will probably never recover fully from his ankle problems."

I guess you are a surgeon/physio/doctor/consultant/pstchic by trade? Nobody can guarantee that Flintoff will return to 100% fitness, nor can they guarantee that they won't so I wouldn't call it "fact".

The overall point we have tried to make is that should Flintoff return to fitness enough to bowl as one of 4 main bowlers, he is easily one of our best bowlers and certainly deserves his place back in the team. Not as a genuine all rounder, only a dramatic return to form with the bat could ever justify that (and convince the selectors to look at the balance of the team further). But for accuracy, persistance and mental strength, he is leagues ahead of Harmison & Plunkett right now. Any suggestion that he "can't bat" is a little over the top - A lack of form (even over a lengthy period) is recoverable, and should be viewed as a bonus to back up his bowling ability.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

Blimey there are some short memories in here.

Try asking opposition players if they would prefer to face an England team with or without Flintoff and you would only get one answer.

His form over the past year has not been great and he needs to be allowed full recovery time to get his ankle in the best possible shape. If his recovery is well managed then we will once again see a world class all rounder.

The holier than thou attitude over the pedalo incident really is a bit pathetic. He was rightly punished, duly contrite and has great desire to get back to his best.

As for developing new players in the England team Mr Wykhamist....name me some.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

Sorry if I ruffled your feathers - I admit I am not the greatest supporter of Flintoff.

I accept that how he fared in the WC rankings has nothing to do with his position relative to other England bowlers.

My point was that Freddy only cuts it as a bowler if he is fully fit. If he is not then he is no longer worth having in the team.

I did not say that he was definitely crocked for good, only that it seems probable to me given that this is a problem which has been going on for a year and was just suppressed with steroids over the winter.

He also looks overweight and allegedly has a drinking problem. Assuming that I am allowed to have an opinion on the matter, I think he is finished. Sorry that you don't agree.

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posted Jun 4, 2007

It may be true that he won't return.

But, as has been pointed out, he was our best bowler in the world cup.

So if he is fit, he's in the team, even if he bats at XI.

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