flintoff comebak against bangladesh

revolver · #1 August 25, 2009, 08:30 AM

Flintoff targets Bangladesh comeback
By Julian Guyer (AFP) – 1 day ago

LONDON — Andrew Flintoff said he hoped to be back for England's tour of Bangladesh in February after bowing out of Test cricket as an Ashes winner.

The 31-year-old all-rounder's career has been blighted by injuries and Flintoff has now decided his body can no longer stand the strain of Test cricket although he still wants to play in one-dayers.

Flintoff, the star of England's 2005 Ashes campaign, did not play a big role with bat or ball during the team's 197-run victory in the fifth Test at the Oval where they beat Australia on Sunday to take this year's series 2-1.

But he did run out Australia captain Ricky Ponting with a superb direct hit on Sunday just when the star batsman was threatening to score a hundred.

Flintoff said winning with more than a day to spare was that it had brought an operation on his right knee forward.

Fears about whether his latest injury would allow Flintoff to get through a full Test saw him left out of the fourth match of the Ashes series, where Australia levelled at 1-1 with an innings and 80-run win.

"The fortunate thing about winning a day early is that they have brought my op forward," fast bowler and hard-hitting batsman Flintoff told reporters at England's hotel here on Monday.

"I can get that done tonight - then it's all about getting fit."

He added: "The harsh reality is now that I need to get my knee sorted out."

Flintoff, selected in several England one-day squads for upcoming tournaments, including next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa, said he did not expect to be playing again before the New Year.

"Realistically I think before Christmas I'm going to struggle.

"Obviously I've retired from Test cricket but there's a tour to Bangladesh which I desperately want to be involved in. So realistically I think that could be my first cricket after this Test."

Unlike four years ago, when England marked their Ashes triumph with an open-topped bus parade through the streets of London, this time around celebrations were more restrained.

Pictures of a clearly hung-over Flintoff struggling to get on the bus the morning after England's Ashes triumph in 2005 are still fondly recalled by many fans but Flintoff said there had been no repeat after Sunday's success.

"I remember 2005 - contrary to popular belief - 2005 was fantastic, it almost snuck up on us. I lived for the moment then and celebrated hard. But this time it was something which I savoured.

"It was quite nice - all the families came over.

"I sat with my wife and my kids, my dad who has done so much for me throughout my career.

"It was very different but in a lot of ways far more enjoyable."

He added: "I loved playing Test cricket - it feels strange talking about it in the past tense. It's one of those things you don't want to end - but like all things it comes to an end at some point and I couldn't ask for a better way for it to finish."

Flintoff, England's captain when they were thrashed 5-0 in Australia in 2006/07, praised current skipper Andrew Strauss by saying: "I think in a roundabout way we got to the right man for the job.

"There was lot of speculation (about who would be captain) between me and him for the last Ashes series in 2006/07.

"We got beat but it's enabled Straussy through different circumstances to take over.

"Straussy leads by example, not just with his batting but with the way he conducts himself. He's a popular lad.

"I'm sure in four or five years' time when someone else is sat in this chair being asked what Andrew Strauss was like as a captain... he was a belter."

England's form nosedived after 2005 and Flintoff said: "If there's any lesson to learn from 2005 now, it's to go for domination, to try to get number one in the world."

Flintoff was particularly encouraged by the form of Stuart Broad, who many believe could be his successor as England's lead all-rounder.

The paceman was named man-of-the-match at the Oval after taking five for 37 as Australia were bowled out for just 160 in their first innings and Flintoff said: "He's better than me in a lot of ways,"

"He's only 23 and he's performing at the highest level."

Flintoff's close friend and England team-mate Stephen Harmison is reported to be considering his Test future but he urged the Durham quick, who has taken 226 Test wickets, to carry on.

"If I was Steve Harmison and could bowl like that I would keep going,".

"If you ask any batsman in the world 'who do you not want to face?' it would be Steve Harmison.

"He could end up being one of the greats for England."

guys wen r we playing against england???

Nafi · #2 August 25, 2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revolver

guys wen r we playing against england???

Try reading your own article

revolver · #3 August 25, 2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nafi
Try reading your own article

lol i did not write this article....this was jus a simple copy and past (ive learnt that alot in skl works)

Nafi · #4 August 25, 2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by revolver
lol i did not write this article....this was jus a simple copy and past (ive learnt that alot in skl works)

Oh believe me, I definitely didnt think you wrote the article.

revolver · #5 August 25, 2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nafi
Oh believe me, I definitely didnt think you wrote the article.

loll....i can write way better articles then this bullocks

Shobha · #6 August 25, 2009, 09:15 AM

That last ashes match was such a tearjerker for me partly because of the fact it was freddie's last match....So i dont mind one bit to have him back be it against bangladesh or whoever

Naimul_Hd · #7 August 25, 2009, 09:22 AM

ahaaa.....ki dorkar ache...eto kosto kore BD te aishe khelar....er cheye valo rest ne

wiseshah · #8 August 25, 2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shobha
That last ashes match was such a tearjerker for me partly because of the fact it was freddie's last match....So i dont mind one bit to have him back be it against bangladesh or whoever

kadena kadena. flintoff thik asbe dekho.

abz..+ · #9 August 25, 2009, 10:01 AM

flintoff will get smash over the ground for 66666666666666666666666666666
shakib will kick his a$$ for defo

*AsifTheManRahman* · #10 August 25, 2009, 10:02 AM

We will make sure he never dares to play international cricket again.

IanW · #11 August 25, 2009, 10:03 AM

With the utmost of respect against Freddie Flintoff I say this ; I understand how badly you want to play against Bangladesh, and I saw how you bowled against Australia and the pitches you bowled against them on, and so I say this ; Bring It, or see England defeated.

nycpro96 · #12 August 25, 2009, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanW
With the utmost of respect against Freddie Flintoff I say this ; I understand how badly you want to play against Bangladesh, and I saw how you bowled against Australia and the pitches you bowled against them on, and so I say this ; Bring It, or see England defeated.

WarWolf · #13 August 25, 2009, 10:34 AM

It will be party time for BD batsmen. It will be an honor for Flintoff if he can get take 2/3 wickets in the whole series.

beshideshi · #14 August 25, 2009, 11:03 AM

BD must ensure that no way does the ball bounce above shoulder length. If it does, the english bowlers may destroy them. specially in tests we should go with slow low pitches, in which we can wrap them pommies

One World · #15 August 25, 2009, 11:31 AM

The endurance of playing five long days against the masterminds still haunts our boys.

IanW · #16 August 25, 2009, 11:37 AM

OneWorld, The masterminds ? We're talking about Freddie *expletive deleted* Flintoff here.

One World · #17 August 25, 2009, 12:02 PM

And I was talking about the team that just beat Aussies as some posters are very upbeat of FF's inclusion.

revolver · #18 August 25, 2009, 12:09 PM

i would laugh if flintoff breaks the stump of all bangladeshi batsmens

BD-Shardul · #19 August 25, 2009, 02:07 PM

Party time for Aftab Ahmed.

sharjilh · #20 August 25, 2009, 02:22 PM

he basically wants to use the Bangladesh series to regain his fitness and form....

Eshen · #21 August 25, 2009, 02:31 PM

I think what Flintoff meant to say is he wants to be back in cricket before IPL and Bangladesh tour happened to be scheduled at that time

wiseshah · #22 August 25, 2009, 02:42 PM

british media and Indian media always make unnecessary hype around some players. If they get any chance, Indian media start comparing them with God and british media try to convince rest of the world they are some how similar to superman.

Nafi · #23 August 25, 2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharjilh
he basically wants to use the Bangladesh series to regain his fitness and form....

Hah! Good luck with that Freddie

Yameen · #24 August 25, 2009, 03:34 PM

I think its great that Bangladeshi people can get to see a living legend in action for what could be the last time..Hope Pieterson will be touring as well as I hear they might send a team full of newbies..

chol_bd123 · #25 August 25, 2009, 03:42 PM

I think that Bangladesh's curators should make a wicket for spin not for fast bowling. Because if the conditions favor fast bowling, god knows what will happen. Our boys will surely poop in their pants if they face any of the English bowlers on a fast wicket.

As for Flintoff, he is a phenomenal player. He will probably get a five wicket haul in the ODI's.