He Tore A Hamstring Dot Mee Dot UK

Beyond the Rope Watching … Andrew Flintoff

Throughout the last few years, the name Andrew Flintoff has been enough to send a juxtaposition of joy, fear and amusement amongst England’s cricket fans, particularly those of the Barmy Army, who have followed ‘Freddie’ and his teammates to every corner of the cricketing map.

They have had joy at his match winning performances, fear of the all too recurrent injuries, and amusement at the the escapades that made him seem like just another lad … albeit a talented one! At the end of the day, who will ever forget the pedalo? That is of course just part of the charm which accompanies the lovable rogue who would then take on the role of match-winning all-rounder.

In the cold light of day, Flintoff’s Test Match Statistics do not make particularly impressive reading – 5 Test Match Centuries averaging 31.77 with the bat, and 226 wickets at 32.78 apiece. However, this belies the fact that he has probably emptied bars in English cricket grounds at a rate which could have put the breweries out of business, quite an ironic achievement given his known penchant for a pint. Quite simply, when Flintoff is in the middle, people want to WATCH the cricket.

The label of being the ‘New Botham‘ has destroyed many talents in the last 20 years, but Freddie, like Sir Ian, saved some of his most memorable performances for the old enemy, Australia. I make no apology for returning to the epic 2nd Test Match of the 2005 Ashes Series, at Edgbaston, the same ground where he had scored a Test Career Best of 167 against the West Indies, a year previously.

Although many associate this match with the final Sunday morning, and the iconic photograph of Flintoff and Brett Lee, my greatest memory of Andrew Flintoff from ‘Beyond the Rope’ is the 3rd day of that Test Match, Saturday 6 August 2005, to be precise.

It started luxuriously at Birmingham’s Malmaison, with my girlfriend, Dani, looking out of the window and suggesting that I needn’t get out of bed at 8am given that the likelihood of cricket before the afternoon appeared minimal. However, that is par for the course with Edgbaston Test Matches, and the time spent under the umbrellas at the bars behind the Press Box is invaluable for catching up with schoolmates that you won’t see until … well, until next year’s Test Match! To be honest, Saturday at Edgbaston Test Match is as much a social as sporting event.

The nation was awash with Ashes Fever, despite England having resoundingly lost the 1st Test Match at Lord’s. This was evident to see as we excitedly embarked upon the walk to cricketing paradise … still, you might note with umbrella in hand and drizzle all pervading! The match was already at an advanced stage with England 25-1 in their 2nd Innings, a handy lead of 124, Flintoff already having played his part with 3 first Innings wickets. This was a good one for me … with the West Indies not involved, I was strictly neutral, whilst Dani, with an Australian father and English Mother, was … strictly confused!

To everyone’s surprise, our early morning fayre of chardonnay and bacon sandwiches was somewhat rudely interrupted by the fact that play would start on time. Before I had even time to get remotely tipsy, the game was quite quickly being turned on its head by Brett Lee and a certain Shane Keith Warne. By the time Warne dismissed Kevin Pietersen, England were rocking on 72-5. Enter Andrew Flintoff.

The next 133 minutes … well I probably missed about 20 after lunch queuing at the bar … were pure cricketing theatre and drama at its best. Flintoff, apparently struggling with a shoulder injury as well as poor form, played with responsibility in obdurate defense as the Aussies looked to turn the screw, each defensive prod greeted by the Barmy Army as if it were an expansive hook for 6. Raincoats and jumpers were the order of the day, but the Lancastrian gladiator just stood and repelled each grenade, in short sleeves and with his favourite piece of willow.

With each wicket that fell, Australia damaged the fragile English psyche, destroyed by so many Ashes beatings in previous series. The large, partisan crowd was already beginning to fear the worse as England collapsed to 131-9, a precarious lead of 230, Flintoff hardly having raised a bat in anger. With Warne at his magical best and Lee bowling apparently at the speed of light, many were headed for the bars!

However, as sunlight breached the dark clouds for the first time all day, so Flintoff breached the pain barrier to launch an incredible assault on Lee. His display of clean, flawless hitting, included 4 sixes, one of which was one of the biggest that I had seen at this, my home patch. He stepped back to the leg side and in one swing despatched a Lee thunderbolt over the small scoreboard at the Pavillion End, and far out of the ground onto the Edgbaston Road, towards Cannon Hill Park. I was speechless, Dani was … still confused!

Carefully farming the strike to protect Simon Jones, Freddie seemed to hit every ball in the middle of that heavy bat, piercing every gap, and filling every seat as the cheers brought people back from the bars of Edgbaston. Within what seemed like the flash of an eye, he had lifted England to 182 all out, and a challenging lead of 281. Flintoff’s contribution ended at 73 off 86 balls, with 6 fours to add to his 4 sixes.

With Edgbaston at fever pitch, and the combination of Freddie-fever and beer creating a quite incredible atmosphere, the scene was set for the classic that would transpire. The Tea Break allowed everyone the opportunity to top-up on refreshments, not to mention queue for the ‘rest rooms’!! With Australia getting off to a solid start in their pursuit of 282, I did not miss much in that time. A quick text from Dani to ask, “where is my wine”, was enough to break my interruption for a pint with an old mate, and get myself back to the Members’ Stand. As I walked up the stairs, I heard a huge roar. This was not however the ‘wicket’ roar, but simply the fact that Michael Vaughan had thrown the ball to Freddie.

Flintoff came roaring in from the Pavillion End at Edgbaston and immediately caused problems for the Australian openers, Justin Langer and Matty Hayden. He would turn the game and Series with a single over in which he sent Langer’s off stump cartwheeling, and then to the joy of a by now delirious crowd, dismissed the Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting. I’m sure at least 1 pint was spilt over me in the celebrations all around. This was comparable to the famous Sunday afternoon in 1981 when Botham had skittled the Aussies at the same venue, taking 5 wickets for a solitary run.

Flintoff’s mates would get in on the act, reducing the Aussies to 136-6, local hero Ashley Giles dismissing Katich and the ever dangerous Adam Gilchrist in the space of an over. Flintoff then dismissed the dogged Jason Gillespie without scoring, before Stephen Harmison‘s slower ball dismissed Michael Clarke to leave the Australians 175-8 at close of play, sending the passionate and jingoistic home crowd home in high expectation of an England victory.

Those who were there the next morning would of course see the dramatic 2 run victory for England, now written into Ashes folklore. For those present on that glorious Saturday, they will always remember a day when the cricketing Gods smiled down on us. Never had tickets been better value for money, as we saw the genius of Warne, the electrifying pace of Lee, the fizz of several Fosters, and the sheer irresistible force of Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff.

Match Scorecard – Career Stats / Profile