Thursday, September 2, 2010

Andrew Flintoff has hit out at critics who have questioned his loyalty to England since he rejected an ECB contract.  

The awesome all-rounder retired from Test cricket after helping England regain the famous Ashes urn in August. But due to among other things, yet another operation and a scrape with the Taliban, ‘Freddie’ has found it hard to stay out of the spotlight.

Not least because although he hopes to continue playing for his country in Twenty20s and one-day internationals, he knocked back the offer of an ECB contract. A move that some have used to suggest Flintoff is putting cash before his country - in effect becoming the first ‘freelance’ cricketer, ready to play for the highest bidder.

An accusation he hits for six with some disdain.

“Anyone who questions my commitment to England, it’s not even worth acknowledging, to be honest with you,” Flintoff told 7DAYS.

“I am comfortable with what I’ve done. Over my career I have played 70-odd Test matches. My priority remains to play Twenty20 cricket and one-dayers for England - nothing’s changed that.”

Since he made his Test debut back in 1998 it seems Flintoff has spent as much time on the treatment table and under the surgeon’s knife, as in the middle taking wickets and hitting sixes. And having had six operations in four years just to allow him to take the field for England, he has little time for his critics.

“They are just so far off the mark you just laugh it off.

“The incentive of playing for England is always so great and the one thing that drives you and I still feel I’ve got a lot of cricket left in me “You wouldn’t do all that rehab if you didn’t think you couldn’t play for England again.

“People use the term ‘freelancer’ but I am contracted to Lancashire for another year and am looking to extend that.”

While Flintoff was laughing and calm throughout 7DAYS’ time with him, there’s little doubt the accusations of disloyalty to England must hurt - such has been his battle with the constant stream of injuries.

“Over the past few years I’ve spent as much time with (his physio) Dave Roberts as I have with my family!

“He got married a few months ago and I was like saying, ‘what am I going to do now?!’ “I didn’t want to become that close to a physio but it’s just the way it’s panned out!”

Along with critics bashing him over not signing an England contract Flintoff has also been accused of undermining Test cricket, with fears other players may follow his ‘lead’ and ‘go in search of more money’. Something else he finds hard to understand.

“I don’t think I will set a new trend. People get blinded by some of the financial rewards on offer in the Twenty20.

“Test cricket is still the ultimate and as a player there’s nothing like it.”

Being under fire at home though was nothing as harsh as when he came under fire in Afghanistan.

Flintoff recently went to the country to visit British troops and was forced to take evasive action under a table when the Taliban fired rockets at the British base. “Going there put what I did into perspective - I play cricket and have a dodgy knee.”