How a Flintoff put-down fired up reborn Shoaib

[Maranello]

Interview in The Guardian today (link). Some interesting snippets below:

"It would probably be rude to put it all down to the personal comment that Freddie Flintoff made - 'It's all about the physique, he looks like Tarzan but he can't bowl' - but he said that out in Australia and I thought 'Thanks for focusing me'. I was struggling with injuries and maybe he didn't mean it like that. But it made me realise that something needed to be done. I had to find the full fast bowler in me."[..]

His status reaffirmed, he can talk of the bad times. "There have been lots of comments made about my commitment to the team. I said to them: 'I am a cricketer and I am here to serve my country to the best of my ability. Let me start with a new chapter.' Money and fame - I've been there and done that."[...]

"I practised the slower ball in the nets, I used cones and a stick, thinking that my ball should fly high to this point and dip from there. At first it wasn't dipping well. I wouldn't blame batsmen if they are playing a ball at 95mph and the next one is 60mph. Obviously, they will struggle. If it was me, I would be scared."

He has not always been a thinking bowler, his bowling brain being entirely programmed in his early days by that mighty Pakistani fast bowling pair, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. "They were both there at mid-on and mid-off. Every ball I bowled, they would say, 'bowl this one, bowl bouncer'. I never used my own brain. They left and I struggled for a year. Finally I managed to pull myself up, to be a thinking bowler.[...]

Inzamam had questioned if he could ever integrate such a wild spirit as Shoaib into a young Pakistan side seeking unity through religion but, against the odds, it has happened. Shoaib, the western-influenced playboy, now talks warmly about the happiest Pakistan side he has known. "We have had some bad times. Now we're learning we have to be united. If someone's down, go and pick him up.

"It's to do with the religion thing as well. People are forgiving, and that's the best thing. I am not the strictest Muslim, but I should pray. I am Muslim. It is just an obligation. You can't get away with part-time prayers; you have to do it. But I am a bit more religious, a bit more calmed down. I stay in my room, watch videos, watch cricket, work on charts, think about the one-dayers - just take it easy."

[Victor Frankenstein]

Interesting read, bit of a rude comment by Freddy but in fairness it's only what everyone else has been saying about Shoaib including his own team mates. Still, I bet he regrets it now seeing as he's the one being made to look like hot air.

[Ernest]

I think this was in the Sun last week Maranello I mentioned it on here yesterday.

Flintoff said "You look like Tarzan" - "but bowl like Jane".

I read that Shoaib said "it has to be realised I don't have a normal body, it is more prone to injury than most", he said Flintoff have made him realise something had to be done, even though it was a joke.

Now I believe Shoaib is a great bowler I said as much before this series, and Flintoff's comment would only have had a mariginal effect on how he would have played.

I read the interview in an outdated Sun in the barbers yesterday.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Ernest

I think this was in the Sun last week Maranello I mentioned it on here yesterday.

Maybe that was a different story, with a similar quotation Ern. This particular interview by Shoaib was just given two days ago, and carried yesterday by all the main British newspapers (Guardian, Times, Telegraph) - according to The Times' Richard Hobson, the interview was with the leading British journalists, who all huddled together on one bed in Shoaib's room, whilst Shoaib sat cross-legged on the other and answered their questions for half an hour. All three newspapers had fairly similar stories yesterday, and led, somewhat unfairly IMO, with the Flintoff quote.

Originally Posted by Ernest

Now I believe Shoaib is a great bowler I said as much before this series, and Flintoff's comment would only have had a mariginal effect on how he would have played.

I agree, I think the press made it out to be bigger than it was, since it seems like an interesting quote for the press to highlight. In reality, Shoaib is bowling well because he is working hard at it, and he worked hard because he was told by Inzi and Woolmer he had to, otherwise his career was over. Simple as that!

Originally Posted by Ernest

I read [...] The Sun in the barbers

Sure you did. Good excuse