I really don't think you can defend Freddie on this one, and having read your attempts, they just seem like straw grasping.

The fact is that the ECB released a statement that Freddie had been warned before, and Nasser in his interview implied that that had been during the Ashes tour while Fred was Captain.

To say that he got bored at 4 in the morning and so went for a ride on a pedalo is just odd. He should have been in bed!!

The difference between this behaviour and his post-Ashes behaviour is context. On his post-Asshes bender he had just won, he had no more Cricket to play and celebration was appropriate. This incident, they haven't even got through the first round, and had just lost a crucial game. This is why this behaviour was not acceptable.

Why was he punished harder:-

1. As vice-Captain, senior member of the team, and most experienced player - he should expect his behaviour to live up to that. If you accept a position of responsibility, you have to accept the terms that it come with.
2. None of the other players were caught on a Pedalo, having to be rescued at 4am!! They may have broken Curfew, but it seems that none of them decided they were also Popeye the sailor man!!

Flintoff has accepted his mistake, and will hopefully learn from it. http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/co...ry/285887.html

When we last toured the West Indies Fred and Harmy gave up Alcohol for the tour (they broke their vow only after Harmy destroyed the West Indies in the first Test). But that was a tour that made Freddie great. Fred should put the booze aside for a few weeks, because he plays better when he is focused. If we win the tournament, then he can drink to his heart's content.