Flintoff "still a novice"

[Rachael]

From the horses mouth:

Originally Posted by Flintoff

The bowling is getting slightly better. I'm still a novice in some ways but I feel I am improving and Troy Cooley the bowling coach has helped in that respect.

A typically honest and frank assessment that.. as is the one on the batting:

Originally Posted by Flintoff

I have learnt a better way of going about things I think that's evidenced on the pitch.

I've got a technique in which I trust and a method and approach for preparing an innings which is 100 times better than it used to be.

No daft claims to be a fantastic batsman.. but an admirable appreciation of the way in which listening to coaches... learning to make the best of limited strengths... and generally ensuring that weaknesses are not major vulnerabilities... can allow one to make a huge contribution to the team's cause.

Truly Fletcher's man.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cric...nd/4056579.stm

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

You wouldnt expect any thing else from the man. That as much as reason as he's as popular as he is.

[Zainub]

Rach, he also says this: "I think we deserve to be number two in the world. We have played good cricket in the last 18 months to get there. It's been a real team effort and everyone at some point has played a part in an England victory. But if we don't play well in South Africa that will soon be forgotten."

Do you think England will stand a chance of beating Aus in the Ashes if they lose to SA?

[Ernest]

Rachael,
just a typical Flintoff interview !modest as ever, giving credit to everyone, that is Flintoff!

However I really am glad you posted this thread, I have more faith in Flintoff than ever.

This summer he had the best average as a batsman in TEST cricket, bar Ian Bell, and you cannot count one innings, not only that, what about is bowling average, and who was the best one day bat.

Rachael he scored was it at least 50 on every match last year,

Rachael all this and he is only a novice, Ye gods how good will he be when he gets going????

PS The bit about Troy Cooley, he has said before, has helped his attitude, but not a lot with his action.

[Mike]

The important bit for me was his plan to improve his batting further. If he succeeds he will surely cement the number 6 batting spot and could go higher. Could he bat as high as Kallis someday? If he does he'll be rated as one of the all-time great all-rounders.

Players to have taken 300 Test wickets and scored 3000 runs:

Kapil Dev; Imran Khan; Ian Botham; Richard Hadlee; Shaun Pollock. Who else will join this elite group? Kallis, perhaps?Flintoff? Any others?

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

Giles !!!!!

[top edged for 4]

What about Glen McGrath?

a fine fifty the other day by all accounts.

[Oliver]

Originally Posted by Mike

Players to have taken 300 Test wickets and scored 3000 runs:

Kapil Dev; Imran Khan; Ian Botham; Richard Hadlee; Shaun Pollock. Who else will join this elite group? Kallis, perhaps?Flintoff? Any others?

I think it is most unlikely that Flintoff will take as many as 300 wickets.

IF I am still posting to this website in the ten or so years necessary to get him there, please everybody laugh and point at me.

He just isn't going to take loads of "Michelles." It's not his style.

[Maranello]

Mike, Warne might get to 3,000 runs if he plays around for a few more years and takes some liberties with the bowling... wouln't make him an all-rounder though.

[Ernest]

I think Flintoff will be the lst of the true all-rounders, I think the workload is so great, with extra Tests unlike in Bothams day, and all the one day stuff, an all-ronder that is also a quick bowler, will just burn out.
Flintoff IMHO is the last, and how long will he last, I doubt as long as Botham did.