The Ashes Thread

[number11]

Indeed ...

http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/current/story/414514.html

Andrew Flintoff has called a press conference at 12.30pm today, in which he will announce his retirement from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes summer, although he still intends to make himself available for Twenty20 and ODI cricket.

To coin a phrase from that **** Ricky Ponting, its a pretty 'ordinary' decision to hold a press conference now. If he intends (and is physically able) to play for the rest of this series, it seems pretty self indulgent to announce a future intention to retire to the public.

 

[canveyshrimper]

To coin a phrase from that **** Ricky Ponting, its a pretty 'ordinary' decision to hold a press conference now. If he intends (and is physically able) to play for the rest of this series, it seems pretty self indulgent to announce a future intention to retire to the public.

Indeed it is, but there have been precedents such as Alec Stewart who've made similar announcements in the past.

Given England's recent Test record with Flintoff is "pretty ordinary" then we may as well plan for the future now.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Given England's recent Test record with Flintoff is "pretty ordinary" then we may as well plan for the future now.

...is it? It was pretty extraordinary in 2005, which will go down as Fred's Ashes in the way that 1981's were Beefy's.

Absolutely gutted for the lad - and for England - but I guess there's only so much punishment his knees can take.

I do think the timing is really odd, though - surely it would have been better if he'd waited until after the Lord's Test...?

:(

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Is he fit for tomorrow do we know ??

 

[canveyshrimper]

...is it? It was pretty extraordinary in 2005, which will go down as Fred's Ashes in the way that 1981's were Beefy's.

Absolutely gutted for the lad - and for England - but I guess there's only so much punishment his knees can take.

I do think the timing is really odd, though - surely it would have been better if he'd waited until after the Lord's Test...?

:(

Couldn't agree more about 2005 Matt, but that was 4 years ago. I saw a stat earlier that we have played 48 tests since then. Flintoff missed 25 of which we have one 12, off the 23 he played we won 3.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Couldn't agree more about 2005 Matt, but that was 4 years ago. I saw a stat earlier that we have played 48 tests since then. Flintoff missed 25 of which we have one 12, off the 23 he played we won 3.

That's a bit simplistic, though, isn't it? Which series did he miss? If he missed home series against Bangladesh, NZ and the Windies, but played in the overseas series for the Ashes in '07, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, that would rather explain those stats, wouldn't it?

Not sure it's right to blame Fred!

Matt

 

[number11]

Couldn't agree more about 2005 Matt, but that was 4 years ago. I saw a stat earlier that we have played 48 tests since then. Flintoff missed 25 of which we have one 12, off the 23 he played we won 3.

I think that stat does him an injustice though. He tends to be recovering during the easy wins against Windies, New Zealand etc (6 of our test wins I think in the past 15 months), and brought out for the tougher tests.

Great servant and sad news. I just think the timing is a bit odd and self indulgent.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

Great servant and sad news. I just think the timing is a bit odd and self indulgent.

100% with you on that.

 

[canveyshrimper]

That's a bit simplistic, though, isn't it? Which series did he miss? If he missed home series against Bangladesh, NZ and the Windies, but played in the overseas series for the Ashes in '07, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa, that would rather explain those stats, wouldn't it?

Not sure it's right to blame Fred!

Matt

I think that stat does him an injustice though. He tends to be recovering during the easy wins against Windies, New Zealand etc (6 of our test wins I think in the past 15 months), and brought out for the tougher tests.

Great servant and sad news. I just think the timing is a bit odd and self indulgent.

To be fair it does, but, and this isn't a criticism of the big man his bowling return in terms of 5fers isn't that good, and he has been the victim of his own willingness to be a work horse. He should be used in short bursts of 4/5 overs, rather than his use as a stock bowler. Strauss over bowled him in Cardiff, and Fred is again paying the price for his own willingness.

His exploits in 2005 will live long in the memory, and I hope that he subject to fitness will make this series equally memorable, starting tomorrow by knocking over the piggy eyed one in short order.

 

[Hammo]

In my opinion Flintoff has been the most consistent bowler over the last 5 years when he has been playing. He has a hostility about him that no one else has and is definitely one of the most feared bowlers in world cricket.

I think the timing of his announcement will add determination for his teammates to ensure he goes out on a high. He has battled hard for his team on the pitch and sure made some mistakes off it but no one can doubt his commitment and battling qualities.

He is going to be even more pumped up with the undoubted amount of support he will now get on top of this announcement. He will be sorely missed in our test team.

 

[SARF]

Im bored of glory boy retirements.. Wait till the series is over.. then retire from test cricket.. 'Oh look at me I'm available to represent my country till this date Then its IPL only please'.. Drop him..
Simon Jones was as cucial as Flintoff in 2005

 

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

England win the toss and will bat first. Flintoff plays, Onions in for Monty, Convicts unchanged.

 

[Shrimper]

Anyone got a stream?

 

[blues_r_best]

Look at page 5 of this thread

 

[Shrimper]

Aaah, cheers. Was just wondering if it would work because they would've replaced it. Cheers.

 

[Hammo]

50 for 0 off 13. Great start but Cooky's technique looks shakey. As Nasser pointed out his front leg is straight and his head outside the line. squares up and pushes at it too much outside off. Worrying times and I feel over the series he will be exposed by Australia time and time again. Top start though.

 

[Pubey]

50 for 0 off 13. Great start but Cooky's technique looks shakey. As Nasser pointed out his front leg is straight and his head outside the line. squares up and pushes at it too much outside off. Worrying times and I feel over the series he will be exposed by Australia time and time again. Top start though.

the problem is that we usually get up to about 50 for 0, and then very quickly that becomes 80 for 2 as Cook and Strauss approach 40. We need to be thinking of chunks of 20 runs... moving slowly up to 100 for 0 and getting both to their 50s and then Ponting will start to get desperate.

 

[Hammo]

He really doesn't have too much to turn to if someone isn't firing. However, we are nowhere near as cultured as the Aussies at playing spin and I feel North and Katich really are as dangerous to us as what Swann is to them and Swanny is our front line spinner. You may disagree but there isn't much in it and I suppose over the course of the series time will tell.

 

[EastStandBlue]

Christ, what's wrong with Johnson today? Getting smashed all over...

 

[Pubey]

Christ, what's wrong with Johnson today? Getting smashed all over...

probably got smashed last night too...