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flintoff
Lancashire indebted to Flintoff
3 years ago, mid-MayFlintoff hasn’t played a lot for Lancashire in the past few years - and he’s already nearing the end of his season with them, as the Bangladesh series starts in just over a week - but today he provided 4 cheap wickets, showing everyone why he’s such a valuable cricketer. He’s still in recovery from his surgery, so to start back bowling as well as he has is an excellent sign. 10 overs, 4 for 26 is a very decent return.
Harmison 1 Flintoff 0
3 years ago, mid-MayFollowing Harmison’s admittance that he’s been delighted in helping Durham (for once), one of the season’s fascinating battles was due to commence today. Flintoff v Harmison.
Harmison stressed: “We’ll have a good battle. We’re good friends, but we’re both playing for professional teams and you have to be professional and that’s the way we’re both going to be looking at it.
Flintoff’s back and bowling
3 years ago, mid-May
Andrew Flintoff, who’s made tentative batting steps on the road from ankle-surgery-recovery, today had his first competitive bowl against Durham. (more…)
Flintoff stretches his legs (and arms)
3 years ago, at the end of AprilGood news for all - Flintoff’s back. Well - if not 100% fully fit, he’s at least making excellent progress, and today hit an 83 in quick time. Stuart Law (now British) matched him run for run, but their stats make enjoyable reading:
Law:
83(r) 201(m) 152(b) 15(4s) 0(6s)
Flintoff:
83(r) 121(m) 101(b) 10(4s) 4(6s)
Good job, too, that he found some form as Lancashire needed to combat Worcestershire’s decent score, on a difficult pitch. Theirs was only thanks to Graeme Hick who hit a Hick-like 176 (next highest score? 27), and who overtook W.G.Grace in making his 127th first class hundred. Graham Gooch is next on 128……………………
(Will shakes his head, mutters into the night, wondering just how the hell this guy never made more than 6 Test hundreds)
County games preview
3 years ago, at the end of AprilAnother round of matches start today - subject to rain, and it’s been pelting down here last few days - and it should be quite interesting.
Andrew Strauss needs a score/hundred in his game against Warwicks. Failed twice in his first game of the season last week - just needs to get moving right about now.
Surrey’s disasterous (here and here) start to the season also needs a kick: they’re in Cardiff playing Glamorgan, although don’t count on there being much play today.
Andrew Flintoff plays his first 4-day game (purely as a batsman) today as Lancashire meet Worcester. Just take it easy, Fred - hit boundaries, don’t bother running 
And in the same game, Jimmy Anderson will be another I’ll be watching/reading carefully. He’s started the season very well, by all accounts, despite some unattractive figures. Huge season this for him.
Flintoff might be batting in 2 weeks
3 years ago, mid-AprilGreat article on Flintoff’s fitness regime after his ankle surgery here, suggesting that he could be batting for Lancashire in a couple of weeks. I really hope he’s not pushed into bowling - look how long it took McGrath to return - but all the signs are certainly positive.
The Kevin Pietersen bandwagon
3 years ago, mid-FebruaryThis isn’t the “exciting” post I mentioned in my previous post, far from it in fact. But it’s interesting and noteworthy nonetheless. I stumbled across KevinPietersen.com, a site glittering with praise (unsuprisingly I suppose - it’s “his” site after all!). Get a load of this:
“Who needs James Bond when you can watch Kevin Pietersen” – The Times
“Extraordinary…..Exceptional” – The Daily Mail
“Fantastic to watch” – The Sun
Blimey. Interestingly, the company behind the site (Mission Sports Management) is chaired by a Mr Ian Botham. And another company involved (it’s hard to understand sports management and consultancy companies) is Woodworm, bat makers for Flintoff and others. I suspect Woodworm are chuffed to balls to have another big-hitter like Pietersen on their books. Their site has a couple of longish clips of Flintoff; one of the making of his bat and another a preview of his DVD.
