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All Change, But Fred Question Remains

May 08 2008

Flintoff - ready or not?

I've been away for a couple of weeks, and all sorts seems to have been going on.

Some of it has been expected: the IPL being entertaining and exciting, yet ultimately lacking that certain something that actually makes you care; Harbhajan Singh being despicable; England's cricket administrators coincidentally utterly changing their views on the IPL at the exact moment they had the idea of an EPL; cretins calling for Andrew Flintoff's return for the first Test against the might of New Zealand despite his complete lack of runs; non-contract England players like Ravi Bopara being linked with megabucks IPL deals.

Some of it has been less expected: New Zealand proving against Essex they are better than a second-division county side; Rajasthan Royals not being rubbish; the person talking the most sense about the role of Twenty20 cricket being an American; Sir Ian Botham not calling for Andrew Flintoff's return for the first Test against the might of New Zealand despite his impressive haul of wickets; non-contract England players like Saj Mahmood being linked with megabucks IPL deals.

But mainly - in England at least - it's been Flintoff. Will he play? Should he play? Will he ever again score a run?

Flintoff has a way of dominating England cricket. When he's in the side, you can't help but notice his presence. When he's not, you can't help but notice his absence.

But I've seen nothing to dissuade me from what I said immediately after the series in New Zealand: England won't need Fred to beat the Black Caps, so he might as well spend the first half of the season in county cricket readying himself for the proper Test series against South Africa.

While his batting is improving only to the extent that today he got out fifth ball for nought rather than first ball, his bowling seems to get better with each passing innings.

In another couple of months he could be back to his irresistible best. He may even have scored a run.

Against New Zealand, Flintoff is a luxury; an unnecessary risk. Against South Africa, he'll be crucial and a gamble worth taking.