Andrew Flintoff reveals he once could not complete a run because of Viagra
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff revealed that he was once run-out while playing for England, owing to having Viagra the previous night. He mentioned that the effects of the erectile dysfunction drug were too much, leading to him not being able to run well enough to save himself from getting out.
According to a report on The Independent, Flintoff was speaking with Daily Mail when he revealed the embarrassing secret. However, he did not reveal which match the incident occurred. The 37-year-old former cricketer is presently promoting his second autobiography – Second Innings – with a nationwide tour.
“It started with an article my ex sold to the News of the World. It wasn’t very complimentary about my 'performance', if you get my meaning. So I decided I had to put that myth to bed even though I was in the middle of a Test match,” Flintoff said.
"I took three Viagra one night and didn’t realise how long they lasted. Trying to bat the next day in that state was not easy. I was run out, simply because I couldn’t move. I could only hop. It wasn’t worth it, either. Complete waste of time,” he confessed.
When on the cricket field, he had a dominating presence about him. He was equally intimidating with the ball and with the bat. His all-round performance for England in the 2005 Ashes series is one that no England fan will ever forget. Almost single-handedly, he had led the English to a 2-1 Ashes series win over Australia for the first time since 1987.
However, after his retirement in 2009, he faced the fact that he had been battling depression for a long time, even while he was at the top of his game. He talked about how David Lloyd advised him to walk out to the pitch like he “owned the place”. Flintoff revealed that he always had to put up an act to not let anyone else know.
He also opened up about how the signs of his depression were most obvious to him during the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
“I took wickets and everybody was celebrating around me and I just felt nothing, absolutely nothing. I thought I was ill. I went to the team doctor. I had no idea what was wrong. I know now. I have seen experts about it and it was a relief to be told what it was," Flintoff said.
Flintoff continues to have anti-depressant medication occasionally as his battle with his illness seems to be ongoing. Nevertheless, he is in a positive frame of mind because of better knowledge about his illness. In 2012, he had fought his first and only professional boxing bout against American boxer Richard Dawson.
Here’s the video of the run which Freddie couldn’t complete: