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Loading ...Psst, it’s *1* year six months since Flintoff played, other-Will.
Flintoff edges ever closer
By Will 2 years ago, mid-July Add your comment below
We’ve coped for so long without him, it really will be oddly odd to see Andrew Flintoff playing for England again. Oddly odd in a good way, of course. If he plays against South Africa on Friday, it will be his first Test for 1 year, 6 months and 13 days; 560 days of trekking up hills, pounding the weight machines, visits to surgeons and god knows what else.
And we need him alright, but who should drop out?
Assuming Ryan Sidebottom is fit to play – and that’s a fairly generous assumption given how arthritic he look at Lord’s – Paul Collingwood will be the unlucky one. Watching him in the field at Lord’s, I think he’d already been told; there was a carefree attitude, he looked as though a burden had been lifted. Well, whatever, we’re guessing now. Let’s just hope Flintoff doesn’t snap a limb in the next 24 hours, so we can hear Headingley roar when he flies into bowl once more.
Tags: andrew-flintoff |
6 Responses to “Flintoff edges ever closer”
July 17th, 2008 at 1.38 am
July 17th, 2008 at 2.07 am
This season, Flintoff averages 22 with the bat, which is less than Glen Chapple. Three ducks in eight innings. He hasn’t scored a century in any form of cricket since Trent Bridge in the 2005 Ashes. And he’s batting number six for England on Friday.
I’m just saying.
July 17th, 2008 at 11.09 am
For me the big question is can Collingwood be considered a bowler as part of a five man attack? England hierarchy currently don’t think so, but his one day bowling and the example of Kallis suggest otherwise.
Colly is currently 5mph on average slower than Kallis and this is true across the board of all our attack. If Colly was scoring runs I’d argue that he can be a fourth seamer, but right now it’s hard to put forward with conviction. We’re also too reliant on swing with both Anderson and Sid requiring the right conditions to look potent.
Broad is a prospect, but still needs to do a bit more with the ball at test level (18 wickets at 45 apiece currently) before he can be considered a genuine #3 test bowler. That said his batting helps balance the team and with his height he has the potential to offer more.
Personally I’d like to see an attack of Flintoff, Anderson, Jones, Broad and Monty. But for that to happen, the contributions from Fred’s batting and whoever is keeping need to improve. I’d also have a few concerns about how much control the seamers would offer once Fred’s spells are over – both Anderson and Jones could improve in this regard.
Not an easy lark this selecting!
July 17th, 2008 at 12.55 pm
Just been watching some reruns of the England-NZ series and I have to feel sorry for anyone who misses out so that a place can be found for an unproven over-hyped icon. The England side is competent and all the bowlers give everything with not a little success albeit perhaps uneven.
The whole team seems to get on together and progress is definitely upward. I fear for the impact on morale that Freddy’s over-sized ego and propensity for spending excessive time brown-nosing in the opposition’s dressing room will have.
July 17th, 2008 at 1.17 pm
I’ll be watching Freddy’s first overs (with bat and ball) in Dr. Who viewing modus – from behind the sofa peeping through splayed fingers. God forgive me for my lack of confidence 
July 17th, 2008 at 10.18 pm
JF, that’s my attack of choice as well.
Sure, Broad’s figures aren’t great yet but he is only 22 – and I think he should be seen as an all-rounder.
I’d bat him at 6, if only because he’s a southpaw, with Ambrose at 7 and Freddie at 8.
This of course supposes that we don’t at some point encounter a spinners’ wicket – but just supposing we did, who should be the second twirler?
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