Former Test paceman Jeff Thomson has mocked England’s prospects of winning next week’s Ashes decider and said that Andrew Flintoff’s farewell Test is set to end in “disappointment”.
The home side must win at The Oval to regain the Ashes following Australia’s innings and 80-run triumph at Headingley last weekend that levelled the series at 1-1.
But Thomson dismissed the prospects of Andrew Strauss’s men rebounding at south London to capture a series win.
“England have no chance of winning the Ashes because the Aussies no longer fear Freddie Flintoff,” Thomson wrote in his column in The Mirror.
“Bringing Flintoff back for the final Test at The Oval next week wont fool our blokes.
“They know England are pinning all their hopes on a saviour charging in to bowl on one leg.
“Great warrior that he is, Flintoff will make one last push to win the Ashes before he retires from Test cricket.
“But the fact is his knee is crocked.
“England have to take 20 wickets next week to save their skins and, Flintoff or no Flintoff, they haven’t got the bowlers to do it.”
Thomson then took aim at the possible move to recall former TV dance show winner Mark Ramprakash after seven years out of the Test arena.
“But what’s he going to do? Dazzle us to death with his sequins and a few ballroom dance moves?,” he said.
“This is Test cricket, not Dancing With the Stars, or whatever you call it. And Ramprakash has a Test average of 27 – don’t make me laugh.
“The Aussies would love it if he returned because it would show just how desperate England are.
“Mind you, he couldn’t do any worse than your middle order at Headingley.
“Ravi Bopara looks shot to pieces and Ian Bell’s biggest contribution was to help Mitchell Johnson regain his form.
“I know Bell scored a 50 at Edgbaston, but he was out about three times in that innings and Johnson has got his number now.
“It’s dial-a-wicket.
“Without Kevin Pietersen, England’s batting has been so flimsy they might as well reverse the order because the tail-enders seem to score more than the top half.”
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