Flintoff admits dealing with depression – Cricket News Update
England’s prolific all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Andrew-Flintoff-c44360 admits that he too suffered from serious depression in the latter stages of his International career.
The 34-year-old was regarded as one of the world’s explosive power hitters and had some memorable stints with the national team, none more so than the 2005 Ashes triumph.
His overall contributions in that series allowed Wisden to acknowledge him as one of the finest players to have ever embraced the field of cricket. However, after the thumping success against Australia he never could emulate his heroics with the national
team and was on the wrong end of a highly unsuccessful bout against the Kangaroos on their home turf.
He was named captain for the series Down Underafter but the Poms suffered a humiliating 5-0 loss, which led Flintoff to question his ambition as far as his cricketing career was concerned. That was followed by a string of alcohol problems which he now admits
to be an outcome of serious depression he had to bear in the latter part of his international commitments.
"I was captain of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in one of the world's biggest sporting events, I didn't want to get out of bed, never mind face people," said Flintoff.
Flintoff somehow geared himself for his team’s World Cup 2007 campaign but again had a fall out with the management following a drunken night after England lost a crucial encounter with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754. This eventually led him to relinquish his vice-captaincy
and the player admitted that he often thought of bidding farewell to the game altogether.
The whole time I was on the field and throughout that World Cup all I could think about was that I wanted to retire," Flintoff said. "I didn't understand what was happening to me. I knew when I got back to my room I couldn't shut off, which is why I started
having a drink. It got to the stage where I was probably drinking more than I should.
After being troubled with serious injuries, he finally announced his retirement in 2010 - more than 12 months since his last bout with the national team.
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