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Most cricket fans, especially when they are young, dream of hitting the world’s best bowlers for huge sixes, taking wickets with searingly fast deliveries, holding sharp slip catches, captaining their country to improbable victory and still being thought of as one of the lads by teammate and opponent alike. Then they wake up.

But Andrew Flintoff has come as close as anyone in recent times to living that dream and the Lancashire all-rounder’s importance to England’s World Cup bid cannot be under-estimated.

In an era where batsman increasingly lord it over bowlers in One-day Internationals (ODIs), Flintoff’s record of 122 wickets in 115 matches at an average of 26.41 is especially impressive.

Much was made, and rightly, of Paul Collingwood’s batting during England’s recent 2-0 Tri-Series final victory over world champions Australia. But in the first final it was Flintoff’s three for 41 in 9.3 overs that played a vital role in keeping Australia’s score in check.

Now England supporters will hope that Flintoff, who has had his fair share of injuries, including most recently a left ankle problem, can stay fit.

Flintoff has scored only three hundreds in limited overs internationals. That can be explained in part by the fact that the 29-year-old often comes in at No 6 in the knowledge that, if he gets out, there is not much batting to come. But a few quick fifties in the Caribbean could make all the difference.

“Freddie had an outstanding game,” said Michael Vaughan. “We have seen a guy that can win us games and that’s great for us to have,” he added.

Source:The News