Andrew Flintoff starts the modern retirement
Columnist
By Brett McKay, 21 Jul 2009 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert
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- Andrew Flintoff, Chennai Super Kings, Cricket, retirement, The Ashes, Twenty20
Andrew Flintoff heads the list of my favourite England cricketers. It’s almost impossible to find anything about the big bloke from Lancashire not to like. He hits the ball as hard as Hayden and Gilchrist, and delivers it as fast as Lee and Johnson. And, he doesn’t mind a beer and a pie either.
If “good enough to play for Australia” is the ultimate compliment I can pay the man they call “Freddie”, then I’ll get it out there early.
From the first time he graced our shores in 2002/03, albeit briefly before returning home injured, Flintoff has consistently been the one player from the Motherland we’d love to have in the Baggy Green.
Of course, it was the last Ashes series in England where the Flintoff legend was confirmed. 402 runs and 25 wickets ensured that just as the 1981 series will forever be known as “Botham’s Ashes”, 2005 will go down as “Freddie’s Ashes”.
But Flintoff stunned the cricket world last week, when on the eve of the Second Ashes Test at Lord’s, he announced that he would retire from Test cricket at the end of the series. He said that his body was starting to tell him that the grind and workload of Test cricket was becoming too much, and that it was time he listened.
He will remain available for one-day and Twenty20 internationals for England, he said.
Now I hate when this happens, but straight away my inner-cynic’s ears pricked up at this news.
The first thing scribbled into my notebook on reading this report was “the next pro Twenty20 millionaire?”
Various articles and reports across the weekend, including on The Roar, have been quick to point out how Flintoff is set to cash in on his sudden availability for the various short-form competitions.
Already on the biggest contract in the Indian Premier League, Flintoff would seem certain to make his Chennai Super Kings bosses very happy next April, by now not having to miss a large chunk of the IPL tournament because of a pesky Test call-up.
Even Queensland have been quick out of the blocks, and are already said to have had “preliminary discussions” about Flintoff taking part in the Twenty20 Big Bash next January. Enquires from new and existing pro leagues in England and South Africa won’t be too far behind.
By taking short-term contracts for the rest of his days, Flintoff is setting himself up for …well, retirement.
This in itself is nothing new. Australian rugby league players have been signing “superannuation” contracts with English clubs for years, and likewise, there’s always been a steady stream of southern hemisphere rugby players heading north, lured by euros or yen.
And since the advent of the IPL, and even its rebel sibling, the Indian Cricket League (ICL), former international players have been able to keep their toes in the water for six weeks a year, and earn a small fortune while doing so.
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden dominated this year’s IPL, which would have been fine if it wasn’t at the same time that the Australian team was struggling in 20 – and 50 – over matches against Pakistan in Dubai.
So while no-one begrudges any professional player the ability to earn an income – especially given their maximum earning window might be measured in months, not years – the concern in my mind is that Flintoff’s “retirement” will be the first of many.
Any international player who suddenly finds themselves struggling to get through a Test season injury-free, or can’t maintain motivation for five days, or dare I say it, not able to stay off the drink when they said they would, will now give this move some serious thought.
And why wouldn’t they?
Players will see billion-dollar tournament broadcast rights being sold and naturally wonder how they might be able to secure even a tiny sliver for themselves.
The worry for me will be if the current sporadic drip of players walking away from Test cricket becomes a steady trickle. Even more so will be if the players “retiring” are getting younger when doing so.
In the case of Flintoff, it was pretty apparent he was labouring toward the end of the Cardiff Test, and he was used sparingly in Australia’s first innings at Lord’s. Clearly, it looks to be a case of England nursing him through the early Tests to ensure he gets a fitting farewell by seeing out the Ashes series.
And once he walks off The Oval at the end of the series, and his last Test, Freddie Flintoff will begin the type of retirement that I think we may have to start getting used to.
Follow Brett McKay on Twitter: @BMcSport
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John Jones said | July 21st 2009 @ 7:15am | Report comment
Legitimate concerns, but Flintoff really is crocked. He can’t make it through a Test series any more – it’s distinctly possible he won’t make it through this one. Sad as it is, he doesn’t have any choice but to retire from Test cricket, his body won’t let him continue any longer. Just look at all the operations he’s had – four on one ankle alone – and how long he’s been out of the game, only to return for a couple of Tests and then be seriously injured yet again.
It’s desperately unfortunate, but it is the reality. No England fan is surprised by his decision.
Brett McKay said | July 21st 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
Quite true John, and you might have even heard the SBS commentators last night saying that there were whispers around Lord’s that Filntoff was going to pull the pin after the Second Test. I must admit, the thought of walking away with a MotM medal in Engalnd’s first win at Lord’s in 75 years would have appealed to me, and I think there was genuine surprise when he spoke after the game about having three Tests to go.
Whether he sees out the series or not, he deserves all the accolades coming his way. From his first over last night, he looked like a man on a mission to win that Test.
Also, between posting this column and its appearance today, Sri Lankan seamer Chaminda Vaas has also announced his retirement from Tests, and he also mentioned the immortal words “I’ll continue playing One-Day and Twenty20 cricket…”
John Jones said | July 21st 2009 @ 8:28am | Report comment
Chaminda Vaas isn’t such an issue. He’s nearly 36 and has done his service in Test cricket. When we get 26 year olds “retiring” then it is a real problem, and that may come to pass.
Nasser Hussain managed to go out on a high with a match winning century, but few other cricketers do. Flintoff seems desperate to win the Ashes though, and go out on that, which perhaps might be fitting in some ways – though you could argue that it might be equally fitting were a player like Ponting able to go out on a similar note in 18 months time.
There are some bright spots in this though: the appeal of T20 – especially the IPL – is clear, but several of the Australian team (and one of England – Stuart Broad) deliberately excluded themselves from selection in order to prepare for this current series, clearly showing that Test cricket is their priority. It may be that just like coloured clothing cricket all those years ago, there is a burst of interest before declining to a more sustainable level. Of course, it would help if the game had a governing body that really did ensure the primacy of the Test game.
Brett McKay said | July 21st 2009 @ 8:40am | Report comment
Again John, quite true about Vaas; my point wasn’t so much about his age, but that he made an identical statement to Flintoff. Also, it’s been well documented that the Sri Lankan and West Indian players can earn more than a year’s salary in six weeks. Right now, Bangladesh are on the verge of an historic away series win over the WIs, who are drastically understrength due to yet another contract dispute.
I think you’re on the money about the appeal of T20 too, and I think the ICL will be dead within two years. They have already cancelled a second series planned for this year, and if more countries lift bans on players as Pakistan and New Zealand have, their main drawcard players will trickle to either the sanctioned competitions, or quietly onto retirement.
For the moment, the IPL seems to be most appealing to young fringe state players and just retired Internationals. But when the like of Warner or Henriques start turning their back on First Class cricket, the modern retirement becomes reality.
Searly said | July 21st 2009 @ 10:44am | Report comment
Brett I know the thrust of the article is about players retiring from Test cricket to cash in, but I can’t let the intro to your piece go unchallenged. At his best Flintoff is a fantastic bowler, perhaps even the best on any given day, but beyond that all the accolades he seems to receive seem entirely misplaced. His batting is, and always has been, ordinary at best (other than the 2005 Ashes aberration thanks largely to some dodgey umpiring decisions and small grounds). Mitchell Johnson for example is a much better bat than Flintoff.
His overall Test record is also very ordinary. For someone who has had the potential to be a great fast bowler, he simply hasn’t delivered consistently. OK he’s had injury concerns but when he’s played his record has been modest.
And that’s the other point. Much like the whole England team, he basically fires up once every four years and then goes back to mediocrity (including captaining England to a 5-0 whitewash loss out here in 06-07).
There’s no way I’d want someone with Flintoff’s record in the Aussie team. Someone who applied Flintoff’s fantastic bowling ability consistently on the other hand would be most welcome.
While he plays the game in the spirit it was intended, I also can’t say I’m overly excited by the Messiah complex with which he seems to greet each of his wickets….
Justin said | July 21st 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Searly – I applaud you. My thoughts exactly.
Colin N said | July 21st 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
From an England point of view Flintoff is overrated by certain people, but had it not been for injuries, he would have been one of the great bowlers IMO. Because of his troubles, he probably is conscious about his body, perhaps meaning he hasn’t taken as many wickets as he could have. Obviously, it’s easy to say in hindsight, but I truely believe this. Now that he’s heading towards the end of his test career, he’s virtually got nothing to protect (bodywise), and we thus see a great display of fast bowling that we saw today. If you also look at this way – that he’s played very little cricket over the last few months and has only just come back from injury, yet can bowl that well with very little match practice is incredible. It takes most bowlers time to get into a certain rythem, but not Freddie.
It’s also worth noting that he was injury free in 2005 and played some great cricket then, taking quite a few wickets.
Coops said | July 21st 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Brett,
Another sterling column. I think your concerns re IPL are more than justified and have been played out on our own shores already. I’m sure Roy was not to phased about losing his test spot (seemingly forever) when he knows full well that he can make a million bucks for playing 6 weeks a year, then go up north fishing for the rest of the year. Sounds like a pretty good life to me, without all the politics and BS that seemingly go hand in hand with being a member of the Australian test squad. Further, I’m confident enough to say that within the next twenty four months, the Freddy trend will continue to such a point where there will be a full teams worth of pro 20twenty players whose players would easily be selected in any test team across the globe. As with anything in modern sport, money talks. We could get into a discussion about the disturbing amount of power the BCCI seem to have over world cricket at the moment, but thats a whole other column!
Now, to Freddy donning the baggy green. Brett… please! The self described ‘hero pose’ in the middle of the pitch post wicket? I can’t cop it. I’d rather see Glenn McGrath putting it on the spot ball after ball, over after over.
Justin said | July 21st 2009 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Its funny the way things change. I remember a few years ago, pre IPL, that people were saying the older players were just hanging around for the cash. Now I think that is true but I also think that some of them deserved the boot but selectors often go with the tried and true instead of picking the next cab off the rank.
If some of the older Test players quit for IPL and other cameos then so be it. I think its a benefit that we see younger cricketers coming into Tests. I dont think it will ruin Test cricket and I am loathe to judge what affect IPL will have on cricket after only 2 seasons. Lets see in another 5 years if its still of great interest. It may just be a fad (god I hope so).
Brett McKay said | July 21st 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Searly, a mate of mine made a similar comment yesterday about Flintoff’s mid-pitch wicket celebration, saying “The only thing missing was him yelling out ‘I’m the king of the world’ or something similar.” To an extent I agree with this, but I countered that the gladiatorial pose highlights everything Flintoff is to English cricket. He’s the focus of the English attack, and he just stands centre stage letting the players, the crowd, and the world come to him. He has that “there you go, just what you wanted” air about him. I actually think it adds to the theatre of the man on his stage.
Regarding his numbers, there’s no doubt at all that injury has ruined what would have been a phenomenal set of career stats. He made the comment last week that from 2005 he spent something like 2 years doing rehab. I would imagine it would be a similar period recovering from various injuries from his debut in 1998 up to 2005 as well.
I made the link to Ian Botham in the article, and I don’t think there would be much argument that Flintoff has been the closest to emulating Botham’s feats in the last twenty years. You could just as equally apply the “fires up once every four years and then goes back to mediocrity” to Botham too, who like Flintoff, also had a failed stint as England Captain.
In my opinion (and again, like Botham), Flintoff was batted too high at times. He certainly looks more comfortable at 7 now than he ever did at 5 or 6. I’d love to see how his numbers at 7 stack up against those when he batted higher.
The accolades he receives being misplaced? I think that’s quite likely, and I doubt that Flintoff would have received anything like what the English media bestow on him if he played for any other country. There’s been a long line of over-hyped English all-rounders to receive and then fail to live up to the “next Botham” tag, but Flintoff has been longest lasting (even with his injuries) and most consistent. Fleet Street has always loved a hero, and Flintoff has been their go-to man almost his whole career.
Either way, I’d happily find room for him in my third grade side, and wouldn’t even care if he couldn’t train (plenty of us don’t anyway!)
Lastly, you mention Johnson being better bat, and I completely agree with you. I used to work with a guy who played with young Mitchell up in Townsville, and he said that even back then he was a pretty handy bat.
I think it’s ironic that just as the Australian selectors finally abandoned their obsession since 2005 with finding someone to mirror Flintoff, Johnson’s batting has gone from strength to strength. It’ll be interesting to see what his 63 last night does for his confidence with the ball…