Andrew Flintoff named in Chennai Super Kings preliminary squad
Chennai Super Kings recently announced its squad for the upcoming Airtel Champions League Twenty20. A surprising pick was English super star Andrew Flintoff even though the English all rounder has suffered injuries after retiring from test cricket. The ex-England skipper has shown his desire to play for shorter formats of the game after retiring from test cricket. Chennai Super Kings announced its preliminary squad two days back and will announce a final 15 member squad on August 9th.
Flintoff has not played any competitive cricket since the last Ashes victory in England. The six feet four inch http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 born, Flintoff believes he still has a lot to offer by playing ODI’s and T20’s. Andrew has gone through a long rehab process after having a major surgery on his knee. In September of last year it was reported that he has developed “deep vein thrombosis” after his knee surgery.
Flintoff missed the third edition of the IPL because of different injuries. Chennai Super Kings secured the services of Flintoff for a record bid of US dollars 1.55 million. The 32 year old fancies his chance of making to final 15 member squad. "I spoke to the Chennai coach Stephen Fleming about a week and a half ago, told him where I was at with my fitness and that I would love to represent Chennai again," Flintoff said. "I only got a chance to do that in three games last time I was there, so the Champions League is a possibility. Hopefully I'll make the cut now."
The Champions’ League will provide Flintoff with an ideal stage to make a comeback into T20 cricket. Flintoff desires to play for the national team as well but so far has failed to gain selectors attention. Currently Flintoff is focusing on a less glamorous tournament of English county. He is likely to play for Lancashire in coming weeks. Some media reports are suggesting that he might also join his old club St Anne’s. "I'm hoping I'll be playing again in the next two weeks," he said, "Lancashire seconds is an option and everyone has been talking about me playing for my old club side St Anne's, which I'm not averse to either. The Champions League is massive but my main incentive now to get out and play for Lancashire. I have to get out on the field for putting myself in position to represent Chennai. I've not played a game of cricket since last September and the thought of playing cricket again for Lancashire, a club which I've been at since I was nine, is massive for me. I'm not getting ahead of myself. I just want to get on the cricket field for Lancashire seconds, make sure I'm right and playing well and then everything else - Chennai, England, can take care of itself."
Airtel Champion’s League, famously known as CLT20, will start from 10th September. The final of this tournament will be played in Wanderers; this stadium will have the privilege to host the final of a tournament that is still in its introductory phase but promises to have a bright future. Centurion and Durban are two other stadiums that will host the semi-finals. A total of 10 teams divided in two groups will participate in this tournament.
Group A consists of Big Bash champions http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754.
Group B consists of Sachin’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 domestic champions TBC, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Highveld Lions and South Australian Redbacks.
The top two teams of each group will advance to semi-finals before playing final at the Wanderers. Interestingly there are some players who are eligible to represent more than one team. Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 is the only player who has qualified to play for three teams. If the player gets selected to play from an “away” team instead of “home” team, the “away” team must pay US$200,000 to the home team as compensation. Away teams cannot avail this opportunity if the player gets selected for home team.
English county clubs will not be participating because of a schedule clash. Another participant, Bangalore Royal Challengers will miss the services of Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan since both players will be playing for their national squad against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
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