Whilst immensely talented, Flintoff is more of a "manufactured" player than Botham.
Flintoff's bowling and batting techniques have changed considerably since his test debut.
His bowling used to be characterised by a stuttering run-up that could best be described as "useless" followed by a strong action. He could probably have bowled just as quickly off 6 paces.
He is now relatively smooth and, as a result, generates good pace and is accurate. IMO, he is England's best bowler but still not the match-winner that Botham was at his peak.
He is obviously working hard on his batting as his footwork has improved markedly of late. When coupled with his striking ability, he's a force to be reckoned with but still suffers from brain explosions. He is yet to engender the same type of anxiety that Botham created in opposition teams by his mere presence at the crease.
If anything, his bowling is far more mature than his batting.
Botham, on the other hand, entered test cricket mentally equipped for success.
Few rated him when he made his debut but he immediately made everyone sit up and take notice.
Botham's technique did not change markedly during his career.
He always had a fluid action and run-up that produced, when fit, genuinely quick deliveries that swung like boomerangs.
He was less concerned with economy than wickets and, as a result, bowled unplayable deliveries and crap in almost equal measure. Some on this forum would describe his bowling as "rubbish" but he was a genuine match-winner.
It was unfortunate that he suffered injuries later in his career that left his bowling a shadow of its former self.
His batting remained the same throughout his career - shuffle into line and give it heaps.
He played a couple of the greatest innings in test history.
On the evidence to date, Botham was mentally stronger than Flintoff at similar stages of their careers. He rose to most challenges, imposed himself upon the opposition with his mental and physical approach, and resisited the temptation to tamper too much with his game.
That being said, Flintoff has all the tools to carve out a career that supersedes Botham's statistically. Whether he can "legitimately", i.e. not as a result of media hype, ever fill his shoes is another question.
Flintoff's bowling and batting techniques have changed considerably since his test debut.
His bowling used to be characterised by a stuttering run-up that could best be described as "useless" followed by a strong action. He could probably have bowled just as quickly off 6 paces.
He is now relatively smooth and, as a result, generates good pace and is accurate. IMO, he is England's best bowler but still not the match-winner that Botham was at his peak.
He is obviously working hard on his batting as his footwork has improved markedly of late. When coupled with his striking ability, he's a force to be reckoned with but still suffers from brain explosions. He is yet to engender the same type of anxiety that Botham created in opposition teams by his mere presence at the crease.
If anything, his bowling is far more mature than his batting.
Botham, on the other hand, entered test cricket mentally equipped for success.
Few rated him when he made his debut but he immediately made everyone sit up and take notice.
Botham's technique did not change markedly during his career.
He always had a fluid action and run-up that produced, when fit, genuinely quick deliveries that swung like boomerangs.
He was less concerned with economy than wickets and, as a result, bowled unplayable deliveries and crap in almost equal measure. Some on this forum would describe his bowling as "rubbish" but he was a genuine match-winner.
It was unfortunate that he suffered injuries later in his career that left his bowling a shadow of its former self.
His batting remained the same throughout his career - shuffle into line and give it heaps.
He played a couple of the greatest innings in test history.
On the evidence to date, Botham was mentally stronger than Flintoff at similar stages of their careers. He rose to most challenges, imposed himself upon the opposition with his mental and physical approach, and resisited the temptation to tamper too much with his game.
That being said, Flintoff has all the tools to carve out a career that supersedes Botham's statistically. Whether he can "legitimately", i.e. not as a result of media hype, ever fill his shoes is another question.
