Is Flintoff number 1?

[Swervy]

well Flintoff is ticking off the teams ...we have now had SA,NZ,Bang,WI and now India...not too many to go now!!!!

 

[steds]

He offers the bowlers something, or he offers the fielders something?
If he offers the fielders something and they don't take them what does that say about him?
Absolutely nothing.
The "he hits the ball hard" excuse is one we hear time and again and it doesn't begin to explain the fact that occasionally players get lots of simple dropped catches, whether or not they "hit the ball hard".
Gilchrist might hit the ball hard, but that had nothing to do with the number of dropped catches he got in 2001 and 2002 because most of them were straightforward dropped catches that were not made difficult by a thunderbolt stroke.
It is exactly the same with Sehwag. The number of slip, deep and ring catches he has had spilled off him in Test-matches in the last 10 months is unbelievable.

If Gilchrist and Sehwag were poor players, they'd nick another soon after being dropped. In my opinion, the fact that they punish the opposition when a chance goes down makes them good players

 

[luckyeddie]

Flintoff is a great player but his real test will come when he plays Australia for the first time.

Naturally, this is the ultimate test for any player, and it is the statement which has been levelled at the current English side by so many for a year or more now (Sri Lanka aside), almost as if to dismiss the current achievements as unimportant or somewhat explainable owing to the (relative) mediocrity of the opposition.

If he fails against Australia, he will probably be condemned as the ultimate FTB, but that would be somewhat unfair.

I think he's been a 'potentially great' player from the day he first picked up a bat and ball, but over the last year the operative word has been...

<quack> BigMac?

..sorry about that - 'focus'. He COULD become a legend.

 

[a massive zebra]

well Flintoff is ticking off the teams ...we have now had SA,NZ,Bang,WI and now India...not too many to go now!!!!

Flintoff has yet to do well against India and he has not even played against Bangladesh.

 

[Jono]

Funny how Ponting recently said things along the lines of how he'd love to have him in his team.

Don't remember him saying that about Kallis.

Yes, of course we all base who is a better played by Ponting's comments.

Flintoff is probably the best all rounder in the world right now, especially in ODI cricket. Best cricket is up for debate, but he'd be in that debate, that's for sure.

 

[Slats4ever]

Gilchrist by far is the worlds most gifted and talented cricketer. He's definately one of the best and explosive OD batsman who will be the first to score 200. He's the best number 7 in the world... he averages over 50 i mean come on... i think he's the best batsman in the world. the way he can just turn a game is amazing...
he's been around for about 4-5 years now and to call someone like Flilntoff the worlds best cricketer is a joke...

oh yeah did i forget to mention Gilchrist keeps.

 

[luckyeddie]

Gilchrist by far is the worlds most gifted and talented cricketer. He's definately one of the best and explosive OD batsman who will be the first to score 200. He's the best number 7 in the world... he averages over 50 i mean come on... i think he's the best batsman in the world. the way he can just turn a game is amazing...
he's been around for about 4-5 years now and to call someone like Flilntoff the worlds best cricketer is a joke...

oh yeah did i forget to mention Gilchrist keeps.

Chill, Slats.

The whole 'Freddie is the best in the world' is on CURRENT form, and is by no means a slur on Gilchrist.

Let me know the next time Churchy hits a half-century in 8 successive test matches.

Oh yeah did I forget to mention Flintoff as a bowler alone would be pushing for a place in the Australian side on CURRENT form? Not saying he'd be in the side - but you for a start would be singing his praises.

And mentioning Gilchrist's keeping loses you points.

 

[Slats4ever]

i'd have gilchrist in my team anyday over flintoff.... the best cricketer in the world he has to be doing it for a while...
form is temporary.. class is permanent

 

[luckyeddie]

i'd have gilchrist in my team anyday over flintoff.... the best cricketer in the world he has to be doing it for a while...
form is temporary.. class is permanent

Well, I appreciate that Flintoff isn't a keeper - but is Gilchrist good enough a bowler?

The whole point of this thread is that Flintoff is the most in form player in the world AT THE MOMENT.

 

[Swervy]

Flintoff has yet to do well against India and he has not even played against Bangladesh.

erm...ok

vs bangladesh last year
Batting 55*,70*,52*
Bowling 9.4-4-14-4, 10-2-17-1, 10-3-32-2

3 consecutive man of the match awards,and man of the series

and last 8 innings vs India in ODI's
52,40,22,51,40,64,34*,99

not bad for someone who has yet to do well vs India and not even played vs Bangladesh

 

[Slats4ever]

where does it talk about that being the purpose of the thread? it simply talks about if he's the world's number 1 cricketer. And sure he can do two art forms of the game very well but so can Gilly... he can also vice captain. the stats read all Messrs Gilchrists way mate

 

[a massive zebra]

erm...ok

vs bangladesh last year
Batting 55*,70*,52*
Bowling 9.4-4-14-4, 10-2-17-1, 10-3-32-2

3 consecutive man of the match awards,and man of the series

and last 8 innings vs India in ODI's
52,40,22,51,40,64,34*,99

not bad for someone who has yet to do well vs India and not even played vs Bangladesh

I was talking about Tests; who ever doubted his ability as a one-day player? The questions have been about his credentials in the longer game where he took a stupidly long time to find his feet.

 

[marc71178]

And sure he can do two art forms of the game very well but so can Gilly

Flintoff can do 3 actually.

Very very good slipper.

 

[biased indian]

The whole point of this thread is that Flintoff is the most in form player in the world AT THE MOMENT.

AT THE MOMENT england is the only team that is playing a lot of cricket

and SL also has played a lot of cricket and Sangakkara is also in good Form

 

[Sudeep]

AT THE MOMENT england is the only team that is playing a lot of cricket

and SL also has played a lot of cricket and Sangakkara is also in good Form

I'd stress again what I said in the NatWest Challenge thread, that by at the moment, we who appreciate Flintoff, mean the best part of an year now. And almost all the teams have played equal amount of cricket in that time period.

 

[biased indian]

I'd stress again what I said in the NatWest Challenge thread, that by at the moment, we who appreciate Flintoff, mean the best part of an year now. And almost all the teams have played equal amount of cricket in that time period.

so AT THE MOMENT from now onwards will mean 6 to 8 months

thax for the information

 

[biased indian]

i'd have gilchrist in my team anyday over flintoff....

why would u need to replace a WK/Batsmen with an allrounder

 

[Sudeep]

so AT THE MOMENT from now onwards will mean 6 to 8 months

thax for the information

You're welcome.

 

[Dar]

I've never seen anyone consistently hit the cricket ball so hard, so effortlessly and still be able to play the big innings (i never saw the likes of Viv Richards and Botham). So as much as i hate to admit it, he is possibly the best player in the world right now

 

[Tom Halsey]

I was talking about Tests; who ever doubted his ability as a one-day player? The questions have been about his credentials in the longer game where he took a stupidly long time to find his feet.

Yes, but he has now, and that is the point.