Flintoff to miss World Twenty20

[cricketpassion]

Flintoff expected to miss World Twenty20

Cricinfo staff

May 15, 2009



Andrew Flintoff injured his knee at the IPL, and is now a doubt for the ICC World Twenty20 © Getty Images




England could be forced to go into next month's ICC World Twenty20 without the services of their premier allrounder, Andrew Flintoff, after he revealed that he has yet to start running after undergoing surgery on a knee injury sustained during his brief stint at the IPL in April.

Flintoff was one of 15 players named in England's squad for the tournament, which starts at Lord's on June 5. But England could have to name a replacement if he cannot prove his fitness in the next three weeks. "I'd love to play in the Twenty20," he told Sky Sports, "but that might be too tight."

With the Ashes fast approaching in July, England desperately need Flintoff, 31, to be fully fit and firing before the arrival of the Australians. But despite his history of injury problems, which include a hip complaint that caused him to fly home midway through the tour of the Caribbean in March, he remains confident about recovering in time.

"I had an operation two weeks ago and I'm already off my crutches," he said. "The Ashes are a long way off - and I'll be fine for them."

England's Twenty20 captain, Paul Collingwood, conceded that the loss of Flintoff for the tournament would be a "huge blow", but felt sure that they would be able to make do without him.

"He's very much two players in one - as I've always said," said Collingwood. "But I think we've got quite a versatile squad with the players we've got in there. It would be a huge blow if he wasn't going to be fit, but we certainly have the players in the squad to overcome that in many ways."

Collingwood even raised the prospect of leaving Flintoff's place in the squad open for a late return, if he was able to recover in time. "Without Fred, it makes it very difficult to get the right balance between batters and bowlers in the final 11," he said Collingwood. "It's something we're going to have to gauge."

[kingusama92]

There goes any hope England had of winning the world cup in my opinion.

[sehsan]

huge loss, england team without him is one dimensional team. I dont see England reaching for Semis now.

[cricketpassion]

Thats the diffirence between mentality of Australian team and others.Australian prefered to take rest before Ashes and wolrd 20-20 and that will show good affects on ashes .

[Amjid Javed]

Oh well englands chance of Holland of all but dissapeared :)

[Oxy]

Flintoff put IPL above his own health....assisted by the ECB.

Serve them right.

Cricket fans will be the only real losers

[cricketpassion]

Flintoff put IPL above his own health....assisted by the ECB.

Serve them right.

Cricket fans will be the only real losers

Agree with you Oxy . not only English fans but all over the world his fans will miss him .

[Oxy]

Agree with you Oxy . not only English fans but all over the world his fans will miss him .

Thats why I said 'cricket fans' - I was looking forward to watching him v Pak & Aus. Being in the ground when Flintoff is up for it is a sight to see

[rhussain33]

Yeah but if he stayed here and played county cricket or whatever he still would have got injured.. if that was meant to be and how his fitness was.

[Oxy]

Yeah but if he stayed here and played county cricket or whatever he still would have got injured.. if that was meant to be and how his fitness was.


Thats what the ECB have said in a 'face-saving' measure.

In fact, it wouldnt surprise me if they knew thet Flintoff wasnt going to play some time back - but delayed it to ensure tkt sales.

Thats how the ECB play these days

[Crucifier]

Great news and it'll help Pakistan's cause in their 1st T20 game :D

[DHONI183]

I think he is finished:|...... He will retire very soon......

Great news and it'll help Pakistan's cause in their 1st T20 game :D

How exactly:20:???

[AZ]

tsk tsk Greed is a b*tch

[Savak]

If he didnt get injured in the IPL, he would have been injured in the T-20 WC. Seriously the guy needs to do something about these injuries, he is becoming another Akhtar.

[shahzadddd]

Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/may/27/andrew-flintoff-to-miss-world-twenty20

Flintoff out apparently, probably unsurprisingly.

But it is a big blow for England.... Bowling line up without him looks a bit lightweight.

[Savak]

Anderson, Broad have improved dramatically. In fact Graeme Onions, Tim Bresnan waiting in the wings, Steve Harmison as well biding his time. Flintoff's abscence can be neutralized. Btw what happened to Mathew Hoggard? Why did he lose favor with the English selectors?

[Inswinger]

Retire already. The body can only take so much.

[Da Best]

Big lose IMO. Bowling on his own turf would have given him an edge as well.

[Muhammad]

That's a massive blow for Flintoff, he was really looking forward to this World 20 tourney as it was a perfect opportunity for him to get some practice in before the next IPL tournament.

[Saj]

Massive blow for England's chances. I think after losing FF you can count them out as far as the leading contenders are concerned.

I was only just chatting to Adil on Monday - a bit surprised that he is Freddie's replacement though.

http://www.pakpassion.net/gallery/showimage.php?i=1689&catid=searchresults&searchid=783

[AZ]

Yorkshire's legspinner Adil Rashid has been called into England's ICC World Twenty20 squad as a replacement for Andrew Flintoff, after the England management conceded that Flintoff would not be fit following his recent bout of knee surgery.

Flintoff, 31, sustained a tear to the meniscus in his right knee while playing for Chennai Super Kings in the recent Indian Premier League. Though he was named in England's squad for the Twenty20 tournament that gets underway against Holland at Lord's on June 5, the likelihood of him recovering in time was always slim.

"Andrew is making excellent progress and there is no swelling or pain now in the knee," said England's chief medical officer, Nick Peirce. "He has been putting in some extremely hard training with Lancashire and should start running and practicing this week. After discussions with his surgeon we have decided that he should continue the remainder of his rehabilitation with physio Dave Roberts, who has overseen his previous rehabilitations."

Having missed all of this season's Tests and ODIs against West Indies, Flintoff will now aim to regain his fitness ahead of the Ashes opener at Cardiff on July 8. The intention is for him to begin his comeback in Lancashire's County Championship fixture against Hampshire at Liverpool on June 17.

The ECB confirmed they had approached the World Twenty20 technical committee for permission to add Rashid to the squad that was originally named on May 1.

"We had to name Andrew in the 15 because we hoped he would be fit," said England's national selector, Geoff Miller. "But in reality the timescale was always optimistic. We have now obtained permission from ICC to name Yorkshire's Adil Rashid as a replacement. There is a lot of cricket still to play this year and it is important Andrew is fully fit for it."

Rashid, who made his first appearance in a senior England squad during the winter tours of India and West Indies, has been drafted in as an extra spinner to support Graeme Swann even though he has been omitted from Yorkshire's first two Twenty20 Cup matches. He was preferred ahead of his seam-bowling team-mate Tim Bresnan, as well as the Nottinghamshire allrounder, Samit Patel, who was controversially overlooked for the original squad because of his failure to meet the team's fitness standards.

"It is an exciting opportunity for Rashid, who was in the original 30 we named in early April," said Miller. "He has impressed the England management after being a part of the Test tour to India and the subsequent Caribbean tour and deserves his chance."

For Rashid, 21, the call-up is another big step in his rapid rise to prominence in English cricket. In addition to his legspin, he is also a genuine batting prospect with two first-class hundreds to his name. Last week, he told Cricinfo that his primary goal this summer had been to get involved in England's Ashes set-up, and that his ultimate ambition is to play Test cricket.

The shortest format can be a cruel game to bowlers, Rashid conceded. "When you're coming on for two overs then coming off again, it is difficult to get the pace and rhythm right," he told Cricinfo. "But Twenty20 does teach you where to bowl, how to bowl and when to bowl, and if a batter gets after you, what to bowl.

"You've got to be looked after," said Rashid. "If you get hit for a six and a four, the captain must accept that a legspinner is also a 'risk' spinner. He goes for runs but he's there to take wickets as well. It shouldn't be a bad thing if he gets hit for a six or a four, he shouldn't be taken off in the next over."

[AZ]

oops sorry bout that, didn't see there was already a thread for it! well like I said, Cash >> Country for these blokes...now he will not be 100% going into the Ashes either