Freddie cooler than Aussies
December 19th 2006 13:37
You wouldn’t want to be England captain Andrew Flintoff at the moment. Only 15 months after Michael Vaughn led England to their first Ashes triumph in 18 years, Flintoff has been at the helm of a team that has sunk faster than the Titanic.
There is much to admire about the man they call ‘Freddie’- named after his similarities to Fred Flintstone. Flintoff is a great character in a sport where personality is becoming scarcer by the year. He is an easy going lad from Lancashire, loves nothing more than a laugh and a beer with mates. Despite his friendly persona, no one displays more passion on the field than Freddie. After he takes a wicket he usually celebrates by raising his arms in the arm, like a goliath.
In the First Test in Brisbane, England had just lost a vital toss on a batting paradise and then had to suffer the indignity of Steve Harmison’s bowling. In came Captain Freddie, with the Australian score racing at 75 without loss. He bowls a peach of a delivery to Hayden, which catches the edge to slip. How much representing England means to him shows by his celebration of the wicket. Fists pumping to the Barmy Army, yelling and screaming ‘come on’ to his troops. Unfortunately for England, we know how the series turned out. Flintoff has tried his best to inspire his team, with relentless but unlucky bowling however his normal aggressive batting has succumbed by being too tentative and indecisive.
Flintoff is a natural born leader. He inspires others by his actions and his great man management skills. Should he be captain? Probaly not. The great demands of being an allrounder in addition to his injury concerns, is too much. Despite getting thumped in the Ashes, Flintoff has maintained dignity in defeat. Unlike Australian Captain Ricky Ponting who sulks and behaves badly when things go badly, Flintoff has acknowledged Australia has been too good but has still displayed pride and faith in his team.
Freddie is the perfect Cricketer to market. Flintoff, with his burly 6’4 frame cuts an impressive image out on the field. He has the charisma and natural brilliance of Shane Warne, but importantly is trouble free and enjoys a happy family life. Freddie doesn’t possess the pretty boy looks of Brett Lee or the metrosexual image of Michael Clark. No, Freddie strikes a casual look, just one of the boys. He possesses probably the coolest looking tattoo in Cricket today, a massive England cricket symbol located on his huge arms, which adds to his persona.
Flintoff has provided the most sporting image seen in Cricket in modern times. In the Second Ashes Test in 2005, when it seemed as if Australia had miraculously won the test and probably the series, with just two runs up their sleeve, England pull off one of the most stunning test wins in history. As the other England players madly celebrated in ecstasy, Flintoff consoled a crestfallen Lee- who had batted courageously. Can you imagine Ponting or Warne doing the same thing?
Flintoff is always the gentleman, either in triumph or defeat. He is such a likeable, impressive figure, that I for one hope England can at least save some face in the series. Just do it for Freddie.
There is much to admire about the man they call ‘Freddie’- named after his similarities to Fred Flintstone. Flintoff is a great character in a sport where personality is becoming scarcer by the year. He is an easy going lad from Lancashire, loves nothing more than a laugh and a beer with mates. Despite his friendly persona, no one displays more passion on the field than Freddie. After he takes a wicket he usually celebrates by raising his arms in the arm, like a goliath.
In the First Test in Brisbane, England had just lost a vital toss on a batting paradise and then had to suffer the indignity of Steve Harmison’s bowling. In came Captain Freddie, with the Australian score racing at 75 without loss. He bowls a peach of a delivery to Hayden, which catches the edge to slip. How much representing England means to him shows by his celebration of the wicket. Fists pumping to the Barmy Army, yelling and screaming ‘come on’ to his troops. Unfortunately for England, we know how the series turned out. Flintoff has tried his best to inspire his team, with relentless but unlucky bowling however his normal aggressive batting has succumbed by being too tentative and indecisive.
Flintoff is a natural born leader. He inspires others by his actions and his great man management skills. Should he be captain? Probaly not. The great demands of being an allrounder in addition to his injury concerns, is too much. Despite getting thumped in the Ashes, Flintoff has maintained dignity in defeat. Unlike Australian Captain Ricky Ponting who sulks and behaves badly when things go badly, Flintoff has acknowledged Australia has been too good but has still displayed pride and faith in his team.
Freddie is the perfect Cricketer to market. Flintoff, with his burly 6’4 frame cuts an impressive image out on the field. He has the charisma and natural brilliance of Shane Warne, but importantly is trouble free and enjoys a happy family life. Freddie doesn’t possess the pretty boy looks of Brett Lee or the metrosexual image of Michael Clark. No, Freddie strikes a casual look, just one of the boys. He possesses probably the coolest looking tattoo in Cricket today, a massive England cricket symbol located on his huge arms, which adds to his persona.
(getty images)
Flintoff has provided the most sporting image seen in Cricket in modern times. In the Second Ashes Test in 2005, when it seemed as if Australia had miraculously won the test and probably the series, with just two runs up their sleeve, England pull off one of the most stunning test wins in history. As the other England players madly celebrated in ecstasy, Flintoff consoled a crestfallen Lee- who had batted courageously. Can you imagine Ponting or Warne doing the same thing?
(getty images)
Flintoff is always the gentleman, either in triumph or defeat. He is such a likeable, impressive figure, that I for one hope England can at least save some face in the series. Just do it for Freddie.
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