Andrew Flintoff to retire from Test cricket

[King Pietersen]

Samit's abit of a part-timer in FC cricket, he doesn't really get many wickets, he's better than Panesar, but that's not saying much. As for Bresnan, I'd say he's a solid all-rounder, FC average of 27 which is decent enough. He's no Keith Miller, but if we were really desperate for an all-rounder then he could do a job. I'd rather go in with 6 batsmen, a keeper and the 4 best bowlers in the country personally.

 

[pcfan123]

Freddy should quit Test Cricket in the near future. Especially since he has to take up the workload as our other bowlers tend to screw up. He bowled 30 odd overs at Cardiff! He has not been a massive wicket taker, just puts on the pressue so wickets fall at the other end. His last 5fer was in the 05 Ashes and his last 4fer before the one he got against SA at Birmingham was in 06.

 

[Jakester1288]

The need for an allrounder is overrated. Whilst Flintoff's body is feeling the toll of bowling lots of overs and batting combined with fielding, England should be alright with 4 bowlers, a keeper and 6 batsmen. Pietersen can bowl a few overs of pies, Collingwood is handy, Shah if and when he plays can bowl a few pies as well. Between them and possibly others to come in the future, England should be able to squeeze out 10 or so overs from them, as long as they have a spinner in their 4 main bowlers.

 

[pcfan123]

We just might have to play the xtra bat if Freddie is out so we can draw Lords. Broad not a #7 yet.

 

[OffCutters]

Yes, he`s always injured and not fit, he cant take Test cricket anymore. Just get him to play ODIs and T20s if you want to lengthen his career with England. I doubt he`ll be in the England Test Squad in the next 2-3 years.

 

[pcfan123]

Yes, he`s always injured and not fit, he cant take Test cricket anymore. Just get him to play ODIs and T20s if you want to lengthen his career with England. I doubt he`ll be in the England Test Squad in the next 2-3 years.

you can bet he will be in Oz next year.

 

[Hooper]

I thought his batting was over rated in the Test arena, his bowling is his strong point. I reckon he should give up one or the other to prolong his career.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

In my opinion, England should just dump Freddie once and for all. It's no point having a player who will play 2 matches and miss 4 or 5 in between. It just keeps on messing with the balance of the side, England would be better off getting used to having a team without him,

 

[King Pietersen]

I thought his batting was over rated in the Test arena, his bowling is his strong point. I reckon he should give up one or the other to prolong his career.

How would that work exactly? He can't just not bat. He'd be better off retiring from one form of the game, most likely to be Test cricket so he can focus on making a nice buck from the IPL.

 

[Hooper]

I meant, give up Test or ODI-20/20... Of course he can't just do a Shane Watson and think he can just stick with one thing.

 

[sifter132]

In my opinion, England should just dump Freddie once and for all. It's no point having a player who will play 2 matches and miss 4 or 5 in between. It just keeps on messing with the balance of the side, England would be better off getting used to having a team without him,

This kind of opinion surprises me really along with all the other 'Freddie should give up Tests'. Why? Because he misses 4 out of 6? That still means he plays in the other 2.

So he misses a lot of Tests, but what is the downside of having him play as many matches as he's fit to play? I can't see any. How many times has he broken down in a match and left the team hanging? Even if he were to be injured in the match, he's the allrounder - the most useful but LEAST VITAL player in the team. If he goes down there are 6 other better batsmen and 4 other specialist bowlers to cover for it. I've argued the same with Aussie fans who say we should give up on Shane Watson. WHY?? When he is fit, he is good.

The only reason to tell Flintoff to quit Tests is: a) there is a young player he is keeping out (Ian Bell??? ), or b) England want to keep him fit for a World Cup. At the moment I don't think either of those hold water.

 

[pcfan123]

How would that work exactly? He can't just not bat. He'd be better off retiring from one form of the game, most likely to be Test cricket so he can focus on making a nice buck from the IPL.

If he never went to the bloody IPL in the first place he wouldnt be injured right now. ECB should just give everyone of their stars who want to go to the IPL cash and stop them from going.

 

[BigCrickNan]

We need him as much as possible in test for at least a year or more, simply because we will never take 20 wickets without his dynamism and ability to break partnerships. Batting him at 7 and having Broad and Swann makes up for his weaker batting anyway at the moment.

 

[Skater]

If he never went to the bloody IPL in the first place he wouldnt be injured right now. ECB should just give everyone of their stars who want to go to the IPL cash and stop them from going.

Yes he would, because he would have been playing for Lancashire instead and been injured playing for them.

 

[pcfan123]

Yes he would, because he would have been playing for Lancashire instead and been injured playing for them.

My point being IPL is xtra work load. If he was not injured during the IPL he would have come back and played for lancs too. Thus he now has twice the likely hood of getting injured. If he just played IPL or just for Lancs its a different story. Although in that scenario I would still want him to play for lancs.