Video: Flintoff has still got it! Takes a blinder off his own bowling
Andrew Flintoff has had 12 surgeries on his knee and ankle, he has a metal plate in his leg, and his shoulder had to be operated upon to repair a torn ligament, an injury he sustained in his bout with American boxer Richard Dawson.
But despite all the wear and tear, Flintoff is back on the cricket field, bowling at acceptable pace and showing that his reflexes haven’t gone anywhere.
In his bid to find a place in Lancashire’s T20 squad for their upcoming match against Yorkshire Vikings in Natwest T20 Blast, Flintoff played his first competitive match in 5 years on Saturday for his former club St. Annes in the Northern Cricket League.
He bowled 12 overs, including 5 maidens and took 3 wickets. The most memorable moment for Flintoff however, was this peach of a return catch:
With a short foray into professional boxing, Flintoff kept his fitness and reflexes at the top and this catch was just an example of how he’s still got what it needs to make a comeback.
But international cricket is not going to be as ‘easy’ as turning out for a local club. The all-rounder was less flamboyant with the bat as he scored 2 runs off 2 balls and holed out on the 3rd.
Having signed a contract with Lancashire last week, Flintoff is all set to play for their 2nd team this week and is hoping to make a good enough impression to land him in the squad for the T20s. However, his task has become more difficult with the return of James Anderson and Jos Buttler, both England internationals.
“I appreciate that Lancashire are on a roll in Twenty20s and there's Jos and Jimmy and people to come back in to that side,” Flintoff said.
“So it's not a gimme that I'm going to play. But I'm going to try to put myself in the frame. I just love being around it. It's great fun.”
The 36-year-old admits that his return to cricket hans’t been painless.
“I'd be lying if I said that physically things didn't hurt a bit. But then I've got a kneeful of metal. I twisted my ankle three-and-a-half weeks ago. However, it's better than it was when I finished first time around. I'm just enjoying it. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. I'm not making big hopes. I'm just going to see where it goes.
“It was nice to get 12 overs under my belt. That was one of the things I wanted to do today, I wanted to bowl. That is something to build on.
“I am running in all right, just out of a bit of timing. There is plenty to work with, I am pleased with where I am at. I didn't think I was going to bowl as many as 12 overs but one of the things I am going to have to look at over the next few weeks it does take me a while to get going so I am going to have to warm up.
“Certainly the first spell I bowled, the longer I bowled the better it got. The second spell, I just wanted to bowl some yorkers and practise some of the things I might have to bowl rather than worrying about the situation in the game but I am fine, putting my body on ice. There is plenty left in the tank,” Flintoff was quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“With the catch, if I get my hands in the way, I have got a chance. I missed the yorker a little bit and with that, you always have the chance of it coming back at you and then I suppose instinct took over and that's what I do.
“Batting, I was telling myself, just knock it around and then I just blocked it to long off, but I am really happy with where my batting is at.
“I have been working hard on a few things and I am going to be working with Gary Yates, modifying a few things. It would have been nice to get a few runs but I don't want to get into any bad habits.”