Freddie Fever causes hallucinations
St John's Wood – A main feature of England's Test victories these days seems to be a mad hour when Andrew Flintoff lets loose with the bat, and the bowling of the burly Lancastrian is becoming increasingly impressive too as he continues his gradual development from stock- to strike-bowler. The rag-bag display by the clutch of bits-and-pieces players on show during the recent one-day series just proves that he is the only Test-class all-rounder in England.
If only there had been others, it might not necessarily have meant the team would be stocked with them but at least that the selectors could have a first reserve in mind in case of Freddie failure. When Flintoff is injured, the other option is often, erm, an injured Flintoff. If he simply can't walk, the call goes out to the county circuit for the bloke with the combined highest places in the batting and bowling averages.
With Flintoff finally having hernia surgery in 2002, Ronnie Irani was the next in line. Against Zimbabwe last year, with the boy wonder nursing his shoulder, it was Anthony McGrath, who even admitted himself that he wasn't an all-rounder. That much-delayed surgery two years ago – which Nasser Hussain admitted at the time was "unprofessional" - meant Flintoff made his injury worse and had not recovered in time for the Ashes.
Flintoff proved late in the NatWest Series that there is nothing wrong with him playing simply as a batsman while he waited for the inflammation caused by a bone spur in his left ankle to subside. As the England team faced the press on Tuesday, Flintoff admitted his reluctance to rely on injections, and there was concern from his inquisitors, most notably Angus Fraser, who knows a thing or two about playing through pain, that he was being pushed down the pincushion route by England management.
Surely best to make sure Freddie is ready for when he will really be needed – a vicious winter tour of South Africa – rather than have him at half power, risking his long-term health and that of others.
If the ankle needs surgery, as similar problems for Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee have in the last year, he is postponing it needlessly. The health of the rest of the attack is brittle anyway, and removing Flintoff from the equation while he still takes up a spot in the XI places them under needless extra pressure. Anyway, there is a second all-rounder already in the team, wicket-keeper Geraint Jones.
Stat of the week
Rob Key was 23 runs short of doubling his career run haul from his nine Tests when he was dismissed for 211 on Friday.
Spotted
Paul Collingwood in the Lord's nets on Tuesday – even though he was left out of the Test squad - before dashing back to Chester-le-Street for Durham's Championship match the next day. Team England is alive and well, and Collingwood is a personification of the work ethic that team is seeking. But after Key's antics later in the week, Colly just keeps getting further and further away from his first Test cap on home soil.
Quote of the Week
"It's a great atmosphere at Lord's, it's the home of cricket and you get a special buzz, and the lunches are fantastic."
- Matthew Hoggard is fully focussed for the first Test.
Six sense
1. Dear Rob, Thanks for the double ton. We both realise what you're capable of now and there's a place on the plane to SA waiting for you. Now Butch's neck is better he will go straight back into the team, and I don't want anyone else to suggest he's past it at 32. If anyone else is crocked, though, I've got you on fast-dial. Cheers, Duncan.
2. Mark Butcher's crash-induced whiplash is another, and more obvious, injury sustained by an England player as a result of driving. Because the players come from all corners they tend to do so in their cars rather than being bussed around, but twice last year players emerged from their cars with injuries worsened – Michael Vaughan's back and Jimmy Anderson's hamstring both suffered. Physio Craig Smith went as far as suggesting to his Lancashire employers last year not only that the bus should be used more often but that the seats should be replaced by beds because sitting down is simply bad for you. Butcher's crash could have been far worse if he had been driving and lying though.
3. I read an interesting suggestion this week – that the development of domestic cricket leagues in the USA could be the key to the West Indies side returning to its former glories. Packer's World Series gave the Windies their first kick towards professionalism and regular county contracts maintained it, but this side has not had the benefit of either. However, even though Merv Dillon, Wavell Hinds and Marlon Samuels are currently involved, American Pro Cricket currently plays 20-over games on pitches often unsuitable for fast bowling. Even if it sorts out the logistics the style of play encourages the sort of play the side is currently suffering from.
4. Don't get too excited about Adam Hollioake coming out of retirement just to play Twenty20 cricket next year. Surrey have been happy to let expensive veterans depart while they spend £22m redeveloping the Brit Oval and an insider said the question by a radio interviewer was without basis. However, he must wish a format that he was clearly born to play had been invented earlier.
5. Durham did a very good job of disguising the arrival of the second Kolpak player on the county circuit, Andy Blignaut. The Zimbabwean has been brought in as cover for Shoaib Akhtar but will stay on after the Rawalpindi Express returns from Asia Cup duty, because he can after the legal precedent set in the case of the Slovakian handball player. The floodgates still haven't opened, though, because no one has attempted to play as a domestic-qualified player in two different competitions.
6. Even Sir Viv Richards was mystified as to why West Indies chose Fidel Edwards ahead of Jermaine Lawson for the first Test but here's one suggestion: After Australia, England offers the closest scrutiny of bowling actions and Lord's is the most high-profile venue of the Test series. Lawson's recent battles mean he will be under massive scrutiny when he returns to the big time for the first time since being called (no, Bangladesh don't count). Perhaps Gus Logie and his selectors just wanted to keep this young man out of the pressure cooker but will ease him back next week. One thing is for sure – they need him desperately.
Turnfurlong 4th XI update
Another match abandoned this week, and again a certain sizeable Geordie was to blame. The wives take it in turns to do teas – although my own good lady is exempt because she goes brass-rubbing on Sunday afternoons – and this week Gary's lass Lindsay did the honours. Nice girl, although I can never understand a word. Nice scran too, although the ham sandwiches were a bit chewy. We realised why as Derek, after facing the first first ball, almost broke into a trot to get back to the pavilion before the floodgates, or rather his bowels, opened. Their opening bowler did a neat impression of Neil Smith at the end of his run-up and the rush to the loos began. In the carnage there was no sign of Gary, although someone managed to get out of Lindsay that the sliced ham came at a decent discount from his mate at the cash and carry, with the sell-by dates scratched off.
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