Flintoff says goodbye to cricket
From the present generation of players, there have been some very fine cricketers, who have provided the world some of the very best performances which will be remembered for many years to come.
One such great cricketer and entertainer, who has won the hearts of millions of cricket lovers is England’s Andrew Flintoff, who has recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game after having failed to gain full match fitness.
Often called “Fredie”, Andrew Flintoff was an impactful player for England, who single handily led his country to victories in many matches. His call to hang his boots has rocked England’s chances to win the Ashes in Australia the feat which was last achieved
some twenty years ago.
Flintoff represented England in 141 One-day Internationals scoring 3,394 runs with the help of three centuries and eighteen fifties, claiming 169 wickets, His Test career of 79 matches produced 3,845 runs from his bat and he got 226 wickets with the ball.
No one can forget his heroics at the Ashes 2005/06 when England won the Ashes against the Aussies. Fredies’ fearsome bowling rattled the Australian batting line up, his big hitting put the likes of Brett Lee and Shane Warne on the back foot, his fielding
was tight, taking sharp catches in the slips with ease. It was his calming effect on England made players believe that they can win the series.
According to the ICC rankings, Flintoff was amongst the top international all-rounders throughout his career. Soon after his debut in international cricket, he became a vital member of England’s cricket team and went to captain the side as well but his glorious
career was dented by an injury plagued career.
He was presented with “Wisden cricketer of the year” award in 2004 for his consistent performances both with the bat and ball. This was not all, Fredie went on to make a special place for himself when a Test match was named after him. In the second Test
against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Edgbaston in August 2005, he broke Ian Botham's 1981 record of six sixes in an Ashes Test Match with five in the first innings, and a further four in the second innings, making 141 runs in total.
In the same game he took a total of 7 wickets (across both innings), including the wickets of Langer and Ponting in his first over in Australia's run-chase. He managed all this despite a shoulder injury early in the second innings. England won the game by
the narrowest of margins – just 2 runs, and saved their hopes of regaining the Ashes. Flintoff was named 'Man of the Match' and Captain Michael Vaughan subsequently dubbed he match "Fred's Test" in honour of his achievement.
In October 2005, Flintoff shared the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC player of the year award with Jacques Kallis of South Africa. In December 2005, Flintoff was crowned BBC sports personality of the year for 2005, the first cricketer since Botham
in 1981. Furthermore, Flintoff was appointed an MBE for his role in the successful Ashes side.
He suffered regular injuries throughout his international career, often due to his heavy frame and bowling action. During the period 2007–09 he played in only 13 of England's 36 Test matches, but nevertheless remained a core member of the England squad,
being selected whenever available.
In February 2009, the Chennai super kings of the Indian premier league bought Flintoff for USD 1,550,000 — which was $600,000 above his basic price of $950,000. This made him the highest-ever-paid IPL player, alongside compatriot Kevin Pietersen, and surpassed
Dhoni's $1,500,000. But Flintoff did not find success at the tournament, held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757, as after a difficult first few matches he was sent home for surgery following another knee injury.
Tags: