The Flintoff Recovery Thread

[Occasional Fan]

Andrew Flintoff is certain to be in the news over the coming months leading up to The Ashes, so I thought I'd open a thread especially for him.

This report from today's Guardian covers his 119 runs off 99 balls in a Lancashire practice match yesterday. It'll be a while before we see him with the ball, I guess, but even if he's not sprinting between the wickets yet, it seems he's still got his eye in.

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

To be honest OF, freddie, like tresco, Gilly and the like will ALWAYS have a good eye regardless of injury.

[Occasional Fan]

Yes, RBLC, barring a crack in the face, that's true. Much more important than these canters in the park will be Flintoff's return to competitive cricket, still further away than a general election (if this morning's wall-to-wall political speculation is to be believed).

[Seamer]

It took McGrath 12 months to recover from the same condition. Ever since he never been quite the same bowler. Now he also swings the ball to deadly effect and it getting a lot of LBW,s now as well. May just be the tonic Flintoff needs if you go by McGrath. He does,nt have 12 months though unfortunately for him.
P.S McGrath is now on 499 wickets. Reckon he did that on purpose so he could get the 500 at Lords. Good way to put himself and the Aussies on a high early in the game.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Seamer

McGrath is now on 499 wickets. Reckon he did that on purpose so he could get the 500 at Lords. Good way to put himself and the Aussies on a high early in the game.

Yep, just as England are on 450 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 93 all out.

[Seamer]

Would'nt want to bet money on that one OF. When was the last time the Aussies lost at Lords? To my knowledge it was only once last century though correct me if i am wrong. England may get 450 but the Aussies will get more - and a hell f a lot quicker - so they still have time to win the test. Having said that, the bowlers may be a little rusty. They won't have had the advantage of a nice, tough workout against Bangledesh like the English bowlers

[Occasional Fan]

I wouldn't bet money on it either, Seamer - but I can have my dream, can't I?

You're right about the Aussies' record at Lord's. They only lost one test match there in the twentieth century, and that was the second test match in 1934 which England took by an innings and 38 runs. There's a scorecard here if you are interested. Those were the days ... Heck, even my Dad wasn't two years old!

The overall record at Lord's also doesn't help England's cause all that much: 32 tests, 14 draws, 13 wins to Australia and only 5 to England.

But we're coming after you this year ... Right, Ern?

[Zainub]

Everytime I see the Ashes schedule I wonder why England have opted to not to play at Headingly(spelling?), will England end up regretting that, or have I simply been reading too much of Lawrence Booth ???

[Occasional Fan]

I think there's some major reconstruction work under way at Headingley, isn't there? There are a couple of ODIs there this year - one each against Bangladesh and Australia - but no Tests. There's no mention on the Yorkshire CCC website of reconstruction, so I may have made that up! Can anyone help me with this?

[Zainub]

So it was the 'e' that I had missed. I always miss it.