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Journalism of Courage
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This is an archive article published on April 7, 2006
England grinding Flintoff to dust
Freddie must keep bowling, batting, fielding and taking those critical decisions
It is difficult to avoid being repetitive. England yet again walked the same filthy path and met the same wretched fate. They are not lasting their 50 overs or cutting down on their wides and no-balls or sorting out the Indian spinners. I also wonder if they would get past this Indian batting line-up again, the absence of Rahul Dravid notwithstanding.
How Flintoff must be envious of Dravid! the Indian captain can now put his feet up while Freddie must keep bowling, batting, fielding and taking those critical decisions which can drive anyone nuts.
He has kept up with the punishing schedule as only Flintoff can, but surely the hour has come when England must decide if they want to ground their best player to dust or keep him in shape for this winter8217;s Ashes and the 2007 World Cup.
Flintoff is the glue, which keeps England together, and a long-term decision on him can no longer be put off for another day. England now have series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home and then the Champions Trophy will beckon.
The time to manage your best player is right now!
I am squarely and directly calling upon Andrew Strauss to step up the ladder at this dire hour.
For a top quality player, he is getting out too often to Pathan. He has only two hundreds from 48 games and one of them is against Bangladesh. He is averaging 20 against India and 26 against Australia; 28 against Pakistan and 17 against South Africa.
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And these four probably are the sides who could be next year8217;s semi-finalists. GRAHAM GOOCH
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