Freddie at the Oval

[Burgey]

He won't need long to skittle them

He'd better not take long either, if he's defending 100 all out.

 

[Top_Cat]

It's all a bit silly calling for Flintoff to play come what may. Even Boycott reckons he should play on one leg. While it might be true that he's a better option than the rest of the attack even if only 75% fit, it's also true that anyone - especially a fast bowler - starting a Test Match at that level of fitness is likely to become even less fit very quickly.

Can't help but agree with this. He started the last Test a bit stiff and finished it half-fit, barely able to hit the crease. If he's in worse shape now than he started that Test with, then it's a pretty high probability, pain killers or not, he'll break down. England will be taking a huge risk if that's the case.

 

[tooextracool]

Can't help but agree with this. He started the last Test a bit stiff and finished it half-fit, barely able to hit the crease. If he's in worse shape now than he started that Test with, then it's a pretty high probability, pain killers or not, he'll break down. England will be taking a huge risk if that's the case.

Flintoff won't break down unless he breaks his knee, despite his long standing fitness issues, I can't recall a single game in his entire career when hes not finished the game. Personally, I don't really understand what all the talk is about. Hes averaging over 40 this series with the bat, which is better than almost everyone else. Even if he bowled 10 overs in a day and takes 1 wicket, with 4 other bowlers in the side he would arguably offer more than Bopara/new debutant/Harmison would probably offer.

 

[Top_Cat]

Flintoff won't break down unless he breaks his knee, despite his long standing fitness issues, I can't recall a single game in his entire career when hes not finished the game. Personally, I don't really understand what all the talk is about. Hes averaging over 40 this series with the bat, which is better than almost everyone else. Even if he bowled 10 overs in a day and takes 1 wicket, with 4 other bowlers in the side he would arguably offer more than Bopara/new debutant/Harmison would probably offer.

As far as his injury goes, we're not talking wear-and-tear injuries here. He's got a meniscus tear, a mechanical injury which is bloody easy to aggravate. If it goes again, he'll simply be unable to bowl. He just will not be able to play through it. That's why it's a risk playing him, especially since his limp just seems to have gotten worse as the series has worn on.

The big problem is he's probably averaging over 40 with the ball which is where he does his best work these days. His runs this series have pretty much been inconsequential so picking him for that reason brings the Agarkar Effect into play. Save for the second dig at Lords and a balls-out spell against Phil Hughes at Cardiff, his bowling has been meh. Pretty clear it's related to his injury. All of the clamouring to pick him for his 'talismanic' qualities looks pretty stupid if he's injured and has no impact on the game.

 

[andyc]

He won't break down. 5th Day at Birmingham meant little other than that Strauss didn't want to cause him injury when a draw was inevitable. He will be injected to within an inch of his life (GIMH at the front of that particular queue I suspect) and will get through the game. And even if he doesn't, the risk is reduced by having a 5-man bowling attack, which England will surely persist with for this game.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

England are batting first so he probably won't have to bowl until just after tea.