Freddie to retire after the Ashes

[social]

Flintoff to retire from Test cricket | England Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

 

[Austin3169]

His body probably can't take the strain of a Test series anymore.

Big loss for England.

 

[The Sean]

Would have so much more respect if he gave up ODI and T20 cricket to play more Tests. But that doesn't seem to be the done thing any more.

 

[GIMH]

I called this a couple of weeks back, sledger to confirm

Edit - I will be heartbroken, but at the same time I hope he goes out on a high. Love ya Freddie.

 

[Pizzorno]

Tbh his body doesn't really work that way. He just can't last 5 days anymore regardless of how much one day cricket he does or does not play.

 

[biased indian]

Would have so much more respect if he gave up ODI and T20 cricket to play more Tests. But that doesn't seem to be the done thing any more.

with the IPL contract that he has, surely he will play for some more time

but is the press conference already started they have not confirmed from which he is retiring though

 

[Pizzorno]

I will be heartbroken, but at the same time I hope he goes out on a high. Love ya Freddie.

This. If his teammates have any heart whatsoever they will do their utmost to make sure Freddie retires with a bang and with the little urn in his back pocket.

I remember in 2001 when Michael Atherton retired during that Ashes series during another hammering at the Oval. A shame that one of our best players had to walk off for one last time in the midst of another dire England performance.

 

[bryce]

Would have so much more respect if he gave up ODI and T20 cricket to play more Tests. But that doesn't seem to be the done thing any more.

Wonder why? 4-10 overs max each day with rest days in between perhaps?
Players understandably want to play for as long as they can, not suffer a career-ending injury as quickly as they can

 

[pasag]

Gutted but not suprised. Favourite English player and one of the true characters and rare talents in the game.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Did not see that coming.

 

[The Sean]

Wonder why? 4-10 overs max each day with rest days in between perhaps?
Players understandably want to play for as long as they can, not suffer a career-ending injury as quickly as they can

I'm aware of the mechanics of the different formats, thanks. I'm just nostalgic enough to wish that, given there are a lot fewer Tests played than limited-overs matches, he'd focus what's left of his energies and fitness on the longer form. It's apparently not the way things will go but that doesn't stop me being disappointed by it.

 

[four_or_six]

Don't really get why an announcement was necessary right now, seems a totally unnecessary distraction, leave it until the series is decided.

Shame he'll retire, but a sensible decision.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Probably done it to try and inspire the batsmen to not perform like brain dead gutless tossers. Doubt it'll work, but it's worth a go.

 

[pasag]

Don't really get why an announcement was necessary right now, seems a totally unnecessary distraction, leave it until the series is decided.

Shame he'll retire, but a sensible decision.

He probably thought it'd put an end some of the media commentary about his fitness, although from what I've seen it hasn't been that much.

Bloody hope it doesn't become a drawn out farewell tour like the end of the 06/07 Ashes or Steve Waugh's retirement where the cricket was overshadowed and it was all anyone talked about.

 

[Jakester1288]

Interesting. He was never a great player but he is good, has heart and his performances from 2004 and 2005 are excellent.

I'm sick of players retiring from Test to play the shorter forms, would rather players retire from the shorter forms to play the Test matches. In some cases, possibly this one, that's just not possible, but for someone like Tendulkar, I really hope he follows that route because it's possible for him.

 

[AaronK]

Fuking IPL..

this happening all because of IPL.. it is interesting .. i was reading article ..

Test cricket could die out warns MCC | Cricket News | Marylebone Cricket Club | Cricinfo.com


I agreee.. we already had alot of cricket before IPL..players can't handle that much pressure..I say if ICC wants to keep test cricket alive.. get ride of IPL and all the other 20 twenty cricket leagues.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Interesting. He was never a great player but he is good, has heart and his performances from 2004 and 2005 are excellent.

I'm sick of players retiring from Test to play the shorter forms, would rather players retire from the shorter forms to play the Test matches. In some cases, possibly this one, that's just not possible, but for someone like Tendulkar, I really hope he follows that route because it's possible for him.

Yea had no choice here, when complete idiots like Strauss bowl him into the ground just for the sake of it. With a vaguely competent captain he might have been able to muddle through longer - using him as an occasional explosive 5th bowler instead of a workhorse soon to be on a cheesy commercial RSPCA advert.

 

[four_or_six]

Yea had no choice here, when complete idiots like Strauss bowl him into the ground just for the sake of it. With a vaguely competent captain he might have been able to muddle through longer - using him as an occasional explosive 5th bowler instead of a workhorse soon to be on a cheesy commercial RSPCA advert.

He's not a good enough batsmen to be used as an occasional bowler though, if he's in the team he has to pull his weight.

 

[social]

Yea had no choice here, when complete idiots like Strauss bowl him into the ground just for the sake of it. With a vaguely competent captain he might have been able to muddle through longer - using him as an occasional explosive 5th bowler instead of a workhorse soon to be on a cheesy commercial RSPCA advert.

Wasnt Fred the captain when he bowled himself into the ground at Lords a few years ago and stuffed his ankle?

 

[GIMH]

yep