- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Andrew Flintoff has drawn stumps and England have lost a redoubtable cricketer. I use the word with great deliberation. Writing on a sportsman’s retirement is akin to giving a speech at a funeral. You feel compelled to say only good things about the deceased.
I cannot use the word ‘great’. I can, however, use the word ‘talismanic’.
Flintoff certainly excelled in two series against Australia. The 2005 Ashes triumph was his crowning achievement.
His nadir was the 2007 tour to Australia when England was beaten 5-0 and his own performances were underwhelming.
I cannot consider Flintoff as a great all rounder. His bowling average was slightly higher than his batting average and this, more often than not, separates the good from the great.
Ian Botham averaged 28 with the ball and 33 with the bat. Botham took 5 wickets in an innings on 27 occasions in his 102 Test matches which is close to once every four Tests. Flintoff did this on three occasions in his 79 Tests or once every 26 matches.
Flintoff hit a century roughly every 16 Tests. Botham’s one in every 7 Tests settles the argument.
Flintoff was merely good.
So how do we account for his cult status in England? He has always been popular with his peers and the abiding memory people will have of him was his consolation of a beaten Brett Lee in the Ashes. The sportsmanship of the man is what defines Andrew Flintoff.
His greatness lies not so much in his deeds as a cricketer, but more so as a decent human being.
He was a throwback to the cricketers of the 50’s and 60’s. He loved a drink and remained his own man. The spectators warmed to his whole hearted endeavours.
He was a big man with a big heart and it was no surprise that his ankles and knees took the terrible pounding that they did.
Science in the end gave up and Flintoff was disappointed he could not make a comeback: “Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative but to retire.”
Right to the very end he remembered his supporters: “Last, but by no means least, I am indebted to the encouragement and support I have always received from England’s magnificent supporters. I will now be taking a break before deciding which future direction to take.”
Flintoff, however, will be remembered as a winner.
His last Test was against Australia at the Oval in 2009 and his unerring throw to run out Ricky Ponting on the fourth afternoon was decisive in England’s 197 run victory and a 2-1 series win. Flintoff was a shell of the man he was in 2005 but he remained a good luck charm for England till the very end.
England has been without Flintoff for two years and the team has certainly moved on. I cannot escape the perception that this England team without Flintoff is a team that is more respected than loved by its followers.
And dare I say, by its opponents.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.