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Loading ...[...] calls it a magical performance. And Patrick Kidd compares it some other great cricketing [...]
Flintoff. Bloody Flintoff
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of July Add your comment below
What an extraordinary day. England spent the most part of it staring listlessly at their feet, bowling wide and looking every inch the beaten team. With Jacques Kallis beginning to look in ominous touch, it seemed only a matter of time before South Africa would take the lead and build and build.
Andrew bloody Flintoff. What a cricketer, what a figure. His late burst contained some of the most thrilling bowling I’ve seen since, well, Flintoff last played for England 18 months ago. And his two overs to Kallis will never be forgotten; almost as good and penetrating as his over to Ricky Ponting, though that particular one is unlikely to be beaten (from an England perspective).
What made it all the more special was how settled Kallis was. He was in control and playing beautifully, yet was made to look foolish, scared and edgy against Flintoff. For someone renowned for his calm, unflappable temperament at the crease, he was sucking in air desperately trying to regain composure while Flintoff roared in. It’s not just his technical ability with the ball, nor his pace or aggression: it’s the figure, the man behind the ball, which makes Flintoff such an awesome prospect. He is absolutely massive, built like a boxer yet runs in like an athlete, yet somehow is unerringly accurate. I would love to know what the great batsmen of yesteryear – Boycott, Richards, Chappell, Imran, Gooch, Richards, Haynes – think of him and whether they would relish or fear facing Flintoff.
It was the magical inspiration England needed, but before his intervention England were truly shite. Horrific and abject are not too far off the mark, and at times embarassing. If Flintoff can inspire them to take early wickets in the morning, they might yet be spared their blushes.
Tags: andrew-flintoff, Jacques-Kallis, south africa in england |
4 Responses to “Flintoff. Bloody Flintoff”
August 1st, 2008 at 5.18 pm
August 1st, 2008 at 8.51 pm
Great day of cricket today, too.
England is a lot more fun to watch than Australia. The Aussies just score lots of runs and take lots of wickets, but England will take your heart for a ride, and you never know where they’ll drop it off.
By the way, I don’t think you’ve talked about Sri Lanka in a while. A couple years ago the word on them was that all their good players were getting too old, and there was no one in the pipeline to replace them. Now they’ve got a few guys who can bat all day and not one but two magic spinners! It should be a great summer of cricket in England next year with Sri Lanka, the Ashes, and the World 20/20.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11.28 am
Alan R
Only if you’re English. England to me are almost the most boring team on the planet to watch. I’m currently only watching spasmodically to see Nel.
Flintoff today was the only highlight of English cricket this year.
August 5th, 2008 at 10.17 pm
no doubt how good fred is.but lets see how well freddie does when kallis has a decent sight screen!!my moneys on kallis scoring a 100 at the oval!!!
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