91Èȱ¬

I think Fred could have a great career in TV once he finally hangs up his spikes, he's got one of those infectious personalities and he'll go down well with audiences because he's almost like "one of the lads". I reckon he'll do a bit of commentating on cricket, and maybe some other sports shows, and I think he'd be excellent as a team captain on A Question Of Sport.

No matter what happens from here on in, I think the future is still very bright for Fred. I hope he doesn't do one of the lower-end reality shows like the jungle one or the house one (though that's pretty much dead now) because he's better than that.

I wonder if his knee would stand up to being on Top Gear's Star In A Reasonably Priced Car? Haha!

It is no surprise that he told Strauss that he was going to bowl until the Aussies were all out.

Having been there, at Lords, you could tell that Freddie wanted to be at the centre of everything on that historic day.

What a true showman, and a great player, who will be sorely missed by the test side. How long before we start hearing calls for his return, should England lose the plot, in the 5-day game?

Well played, Andy.....Enjoy your test retirement, but please fulfil your wish to become the best one-day player in the world!

I think England has to look to build a team for the next ashes now. I do not think having Flintoff back in the side will help at all.
Its time to drop the 2005 Ashes team in preference of younger players. Lets be honest they only played in the 2009 ashes because the coach Struss and the selectors made an absolute mess of the job and panic set in.
We beat an average Austrailian side who if they had had Mr Lee fit would have slaughterd us. They will not stay average for long as the 1 day seies showed.
Flintoff back for England? no he is not fit he should go write a book or somthing. Pick a team on ability not what the media want.
Anyway he is not South African or Irish so why pick him anyway.

@#3

You are correct in your statement that England should be building for the next ashes series, but as that is only a year or so away, most of the team will still be about.

Before the Ashes, everyone was talking up Mitchell Johnson into a world-beater and Philip Hughes was supposed to be the best young opener in the world. Therefore, by rights, the Austrailian (sic) side should have given us a walloping without "Mr Lee". However, in any sport, you can only play the team in front of you. England deserved to win the Ashes, and quite honestly from your comments, you can't be an England fan, so why comment?

As much as I like the bloke I think it is time that we move on. Yesterday proved we are capable of good things, even without Pietersen and Freddie. Having him back makes the players live in his shadows and even hide in them.
If he is only going to be a bit part player, then I do not see why he should be selected. We need consistancy.

I think for Fred to play tests again he'd need Oscar Pistorius's legs!

I sincerely hope he comes back to play lots more Pro40 games for Lancashire, that would be a massive draw for a club currently in a state of rebuilding, and in massive need of funds from ticket sales. Lancashire should be his first priority ahead of England, given that he's spent much of the last 10 years not playing many games at all for them. The Twenty20 Cup in England would benefit greatly from having Fred there as a figurehead, he's a massive role model for any aspiring cricketer. The one thing I don't understand is why we as English are so mediocre at all forms of limited overs cricket given that outside of county and Test level all games are limited overs. At junior lever all games are effectively Twenty20 style so unless a player starts out his career at county level limited overs cricket plays a big part in development. I've already voiced my opinion over the quite frankly too high number of limited overs international fixtures next season, as I am a big proponent of Test cricket. Six tests just isn't enough in a summer.

Anyway, bit off topic there! Fred, I'm hoping, will be a big figure in cricket even after his retirement from all forms of the game, as his personality will be much missed otherwise on the circuit.

Freddie Who?

A career in television would be very shortlived as not only is he not the brightest button in the box, his slurred delivery (I don't mean when he has had a drink, I mean at any time) would make it impossible to listen to him. Quite honestly he will be nothing to the next generation of people who will need interviewing and that famous "personality" mentioned by chizzleface will be a drawback, not an advantage.

Is it just me or does anyone else find it difficult to reconcile Andrew Flintoff’s decent bloke persona with him employing Chubby Chandler as an agent and considering becoming a tax exile in Dubai. Human rights, equal opportunities for women, religious tolerance….. Is money a greater god (apologies) than any of these? Can’t really see it fitting in with his "occasional" drinking either.

Superhoop - Freddie was asked if he would ever consider reversing his decision to retire from Tests. He said: "There would have to be some major medical advances. Over the past few years I've been injured and not finished Test aeries. England and myself have to move on for the good of the game."

Oliver, that is most certainly true, but do you think it will halt the clamour, if, and when, we lose a couple of tests?

I'm a firm believer that he has done the right thing in getting out whilst the going is good. There aren't many players that can afford to go out at the top.

As I said, I wish him all the best for his Test Match Retirement, and hope he goes all the way as a One-Day player.

Strictly Come Dancing ?
Does anyone really think his dodgy knee will stand up to the rigours of the cha cha and paso doble? the salsa and samba?
Indubitably , no !
I don't see him doing Hole in the Wall a la Darren Gough;he doesn't have a commentator's voice per se and I would have to be convinced about his efficacy as a coach .

I can fully understand why he wants to make money whilst he can, approval is another matter;England need to forget about him and move on .

"The world's most famous... " ??!

As long as they don't ever allow him to commentate on cricket he can do what he likes on TV. I will never watch Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here or Come Dancing. He would definitely dumb down excellent cricket coverage which we do not want.
He is the most overrated cricketer we have ever had. He has had 2 good Ashes series (well part series) and other that very little. Look at his statistics,he does not even fit in the same category as Kapild Dev, Jacques Kallis, Botham, just to name a few great all rounders. Another journeyman with a huge reputatiuon his playing career cannot match. He will do well as a celebrity

Question of Sport team captain anyone!? I hope he doesn't go for the reality TV route, although we all know he has the personality to win those sorts of things.

I sometimes think Fred needs a reality check. He's been a great cricketer for England for a number of years and, without injuries, would have had the figures to make him one of the greatest all-rounders of all time. But, he is injury prone and has never done anything to try and limit the possibility. The obvious thing would have been to stop bowling in 2006 and concentrate on being a great batsman; he could easily have done it and carried on playing Tests well into his 30s. To play in the IPL is dangerous for fit players, for those with a history of injury it is suicidal. But what are Fred's plans - the IPL and money! He'll never play for England again, and that's a great shame. A TV career? Quite frankly, I don't think he has the wit to be more than just another blokey pratt like Ian Wright or the brainless buffoons on Top Gear. One is too many! Still, thanks for the memories, Andrew, good luck in whatever you do, and stay off the booze and pies!

Carrie

I think you're being a bit hard on Freddie when you say he's not the brightest button in the box. I seem to remember he played chess for Lancashire, which has got to indicate a pretty sharp brain . . .

It may be a jab at immortality through the back door, though I will grant he has genuine fitness problems that impel his lateral thinking away from the real thing.

Flintoff is obviously a good cricketer, but a Botham? Come on guys - let Flintoff move on - but not my guess, in an England shirt - look at England now - we were dead lucky to beat Australia - now Ponting - there's a class act - as for any swipes about being a british supporter - lets be big enough to welcome debate..

England shouldn't bow to Flintoff. He was a great player, in patches, but I believe has too powerful an influence over the dressing room.

Some players will be in awe of him, others will try to impress him. It's not an ideal dynamic for a dressing room that needs to focus on winning.

The sooner we get used to a post-Freddie team, the more chance England will have of winning.

This may sound harsh on a former great but you have to be objective and tough.

A few points:

1 - To post #3: I don't think there's been any question of Fred returning to the test side. Other posters have explained that as well. I also don't think we need to 'move on' from the 2005 Ashes side. Of our current ashes winning side, Strauss is the only 2005 vet who played in every test if you disregard Colly's MBE-worthy efforts at the Oval. Harmison, Bell, KP and obviously Fred played in 1, 2, 2 and 4 tests respectively. (Haven't bothered to properly check my stats so ready to be corrected). We have moved on.

2 - For all those suggesting that Fred doesn't necessarily have what it takes up top to be a success on TV: I think you may be surprised. The majority of journalists, columnists etc. who know Fred all suggest that his blokey demeanour only represents a small part of the real man and that he is actually a very insightful and intelligent fella. Some interviews (away from the pitch) that I've seen with him seem to back that up). Anyway, since when was lack of brains a barrier to getting on to primetime TV - its seems to be considered an asset these days!

3 - The author's little aside about Freddie finding out about the birth of his son while in a cab in India with DF should make all of those who slate Fred's commitment to his country stop and think for a moment. He's not the first to miss the birth of a child on tour and he won't be the last but that doesn't lessen the sacrifice in any way.

I am neither a huge fan of Fred or hold any dislike for him. All I know is that he's given me much entertainment over the past few years and thrown in some truly world class performances (esp in 2004 and 2005) to boot. Bar the 06/07 Ashes, I've never seen anything to suggest he hasn't given his all for his country and similarly I think he has conducted himself fairly well since his test retirement, especially with a group of fans and scribes attempting to pick holes in his every action.

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From what i have heard and seen of Fred on various interviews he always comes accross as an honest and very likeable bloke. The entertainment he has given to England fans over the last ten years means fans should come out in support of truly great sportsman-showman.

A man that has given his all for his country on the cricket pitch and no doubt more to come in the one day format. He deserves his accolades and any succes that comes of the cricket pitch

Super Fred - would be an excellent addition to the Sky Sports Team (apologies to 91Èȱ¬)

Quote from article above: "tattooed biceps bulging out of his sponsored tee-shirt "

Always seems like a decent bloke. Sadly there is a degree of chavyness about him which may influence youngsters. I think the 91Èȱ¬ has a duty to ask him to cover his tattoos. The tee-shirt as well; the point of paying a fee is (I think) to allow the 91Èȱ¬ to produce quality, commercial free programmes (though with East Enders, wall to wall football and strictly come dancing they are falling down badly).

But, he is injury prone and has never done anything to try and limit the possibility. The obvious thing would have been to stop bowling in 2006 and concentrate on being a great batsman; he could easily have done it and carried on playing Tests well into his 30s.

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Errr no, he was never and would never be a specialist batsman. He was a bowler who was good and powerful enough to score heavily at lower levels but ultimately struggled for consistency at the top. Very rarely has his batting done anything special in a match for England, certainly in tests (he has had a few belters in ODIs when the run rate needed accelerating), but his bowling was often critical in many England victories. He did the right thing for his talent in concentrating on the bowling, even if it was wrong for his body.

I don't see him making a 'career' out of TV, I do see him doing a couple of shows, perhaps a regular spot on Cricket AM, a documentary or two about celebrities visiting places of interest, perhaps a pitchside job with TMS even. He has charm and charisma but probably not the ability to pull off long stretches of media work. Either way I can;t see him over exerting himself, he has a young family and is set for life financially (or will be very soon at least).

just play for England Freddie

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