SA Footy

UPDATE: ENGLAND superstar Andy Flintoff has announced his retirement from Test cricket.

The injury-riddled England talisman will play until the end of the Ashes series and then quit the five-day game.

""My body has told me it's time to stop. Since 2005 I've had two years when I've done nothing but rehab from one injury or another," Flintoff said.

""It's been something I've been thinking about for a while and I think this last problem I've had with my knee has confirmed to me that the time is now right.

The man they call ""Fred" has tossed in his Test cap to preserve his battered body for one-dayers and Twenty 20 matches. The 31-year-old may be eyeing off the 2011 World Cup and wants to keep his lucrative Indian Premier League contact with Chennai.

It is major news on the eve of the second Test at Lord's.

Flintoff was the star of the 2005 Ashes but his body has continually let him down in recent years.

After recently returning from knee surgery, his knee problem has flared up again and he is in doubt to play the second Test with Steve Harmison on standby.

Flintoff, 31, has played 76 Tests, scoring 3708 runs at 31.69 and taking 219 wickets at 32.51.

He will remain a multi-million superstar in the IPL where he was sold for US$1.55milllion earlier this year

holy sh!t.....

Its a bit sad when the stars retire to make sure they can play IPL for another 5 yrs.

ironknob wrote:holy sh!t.....

Its a bit sad when the stars retire to make sure they can play IPL for another 5 yrs.

Why wouldn't you if you can make more in 6 weeks than a normal year ... unfortunately.

dedja wrote:

ironknob wrote:holy sh!t.....

Its a bit sad when the stars retire to make sure they can play IPL for another 5 yrs.

Why wouldn't you if you can make more in 6 weeks than a normal year ... unfortunately.

im not saying i wouldn't do it and i don't blame him ... still its sad for test cricket

... and I agree with you

He's hardly a star Average of over 30 as a bowler and just over 30 as a batsman. He had a good series back in 2005 but otherwise he's been pretty average.

C'mon RR, to the Poms he's a star ...

So no more of playing the Flinstones at the cricket.

no more of this then either???

See ya Freddie.

A good player who had a great series at the right time.

At least he's one of the few around who basically openly admits to enjoying a beer. At least this way he'll be able to buy it still.

Reading his injury list, retirement seems a fair option at 31. Pace bowling's a tough gig, especially with the ravages of alcohol on the aging body. Now he can get stuck in, earn a buck and enjoy.

Gee this is a bit of a shock. Due to his talisman like stature I'd prefer if it were effective immediately but I guess this will have to do.

rod_rooster wrote:He's hardly a star Average of over 30 as a bowler and just over 30 as a batsman. He had a good series back in 2005 but otherwise he's been pretty average.

Spot on. He has heart but the new Botham he aint. Fancy test cricketers retiring early to play teeball...no no one saw that coming did they?

regards,

REB

Freddie's taken a soft option ... not like a Pom at all.

Agreed RR that he isn't a star, but i would have liked to have seen him if he hadn't gone through the injuries he has in the last 4 years since that great series he had in 2005.

I think the first test this series has showed that as a bowler unless you are 100% fit it is very hard to bowl for three consecutive days and bowl 30+ overs like he had to. I think that would've played on his mind a great deal.

It is a pity he is going because he is a player i genuinely enjoy watching playing cricket whether it be with bat or ball in hand.

Oh well, I'm not aware of him doing much since the 2005 Ashes anyway.

Ah how ironic are his comments to Dwayne Bravo in a Test Match in 2006 now.

I have to admit, I am not overly surprised but i am very disappointed.

Mic wrote:Oh well, I'm not aware of him doing much since the 2005 Ashes anyway.

he has been injured the whole time that is why.

Rik E Boy wrote:

rod_rooster wrote:He's hardly a star Average of over 30 as a bowler and just over 30 as a batsman. He had a good series back in 2005 but otherwise he's been pretty average.

Spot on. He has heart but the new Botham he aint. Fancy test cricketers retiring early to play teeball...no no one saw that coming did they?

regards,

REB

Wake up REB
Different eras Botham /Flintoff
Todays cricketers have to play TOO often
Tests
50 o/day gaes
20/20 tee ball
Todays cricketers are overburdoned with the amount of cricket played [compared to Bothams era]
The bowlers in particular get burnt out
TAIT/SHAIOB/FLINTOFF/BOND
All good fast bowlers who have not got the bodies to cope with cricket saturation
If those guys played in the 70/80s with far less cricket they MIGHT have got through much better

Flintoff has a fragile boday
Why not play limited overs cricket and tee ball and increase his International longevity in cricket

REB dont pick on Freddys decision
Pick on the younger guys + non bowlers+ fitter guys in general who give up real cricket for tee ball
Someone like Chris Gayle is someone you should target if he retires form real cricket to play tee ball

Mal, these guys you mention don't break down because of too much cricket. They all break down well before they even get the chance to play too much cricket. You can add Watto to the list as well. These blokes just can't cope with the stress the game puts on their bodies. You can't tell me that too much cricket is the problem when they are breaking down within a month of resuming on a regular basis.

It wasn't that long ago that SK Warne retired from all one day cricket in a bid to prolong his Test career. That isn't something we are likely to see any players do again.

Bye Fred, at least now we won't have to watch him arms raised in the middle, waiting for his loyal servants to run to the king after every wicket......