The Mixer

And now, the end is near. Andrew Flintoff would be forgiven for humming the popular song “My way” this next week as he prepares to take to the field for the last time in a test match for his country. The stage is set. The series is tied at one apiece. Winner takes all. Will this story unfold to the Hans Christian Andersen/Roy Race finale that every Englishman is desperate for? Or will Ricky Ponting and his Baggy Green boys be cast as chief spoilsports?

Few sportsmen have captured the nation’s affections as much as Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff. He plays the game in the way you or I imagine we would given the opportunity to turn out for England. No matter what the situation, what the scenario, who the opposition are, he goes back to his mark and he gives absolutely everything he has.

In these modern times, with accusations of wrapping sportsmen in cotton wool, of pampered prima donnas, it is refreshing for us to see a man so desperate to win even when his body is telling him it is not possible.

Flintoff is England’s talisman. Comparisons with Sir Ian Botham are rife, and have been since Flintoff first broke onto the scene. Yes, both have been handy with both bat and ball! Both have had brushes with discipline and perceived lack thereof, but in all honesty their skill made them loved, and certainly in Flintoff’s case, their fallibility made them adored.

After the momentous Ashes series in 2005, Flintoff appeared at the England team’s official engagements in a state that should you or I be found in would cause vigorous head shaking, finger pointing and the dreaded “I’m very disappointed in you” from our parents. Freddie? Well, he’s just a normal guy. That’s how a normal guy would celebrate such an achievement. Good on him. Isn’t it amusing? Then there was the infamous “Fredalo” incident. Any other player and there would have been national outcry, much wailing and gnashing of teeth, calls for him to be kicked out of the squad and so on. Yet, whilst Fred was dropped for a game, it was against opposition England were expected to beat and so was not deemed to be a huge punishment. Again there was widespread “boys will boys” from the general public such is the affection for our very own “cheeky scamp”.

If one looks at Flintoff’s record, the statistics perhaps don’t match up to the aura he exudes in our hearts and minds. For one thing, his international career has been stop-start, blighted by a body that does not want to do what the mind wishes it could. Flintoff made his debut aged 20 in 1998, yet has only managed 78 test matches in that time. Had he remained fit, he would undoubtedly have managed almost double that number.

Flintoff took 13 tests to register a half-century for England (against New Zealand) whilst with the ball he has only managed 3 five wicket hauls. The latter statistic is the one that astounds most. Although Flintoff has always regarded himself as a batting all rounder, in recent years many of us identify him as a hostile, quick, aggressive fast bowler who the world’s top batsmen hate to face. Witness his recent one-man assault on Australia in this summer’s second test should you need any evidence. When he bowls like that (as we all think he does all the time) how can he have possibly only managed 3 five wicket hauls? Compare that with Botham (inevitably) who chipped in 27 of them in his international career and the comparisons don’t quite add up. With the bat Botham leads the number of centuries 14-5, whilst Flintoff takes the number of 50s 26-22. Although Botham has enjoyed an arguably more successful career and a Knighthood for his troubles, it is Flintoff the people identify with and idolise that bit more.

The simple truth is that Botham seemed like and acted like the superstar he was. Flintoff is still the normal guy giving his all for his country: His quip of “not bad for a fat lad” after a man of the match award against Zimbabwe in 2000, showed his self deprecating humour. Who among us with our beer-induced paunches, our wheezing lungs and our aching joints has found it hard to identify with the action-figure, carved from stone sportsmen of today? Flintoff, as he made us aware with that comment in 2000, is the representative of all of us. The man we can see ourselves in, save for that little bit of outrageous talent that we never really had.

In actual fact, Flintoff has endured a lot of unfair criticism for his waistline to go alongside the adoration of the people. Many critics have been harsh about his physique when the truth is he has shed a lot of said weight in recent years. He could not have enjoyed the success he has were he “just a fat lad”. That is by the by. Fat or otherwise, Freddie is, was and always will be the people’s champion.

This week against Australia, injured or fit, rain or shine, every English cricket fan will be urging Flintoff to enjoy one last win. Will the arm of the people’s champion be raised in victory after a Herculean effort just that one last time?

If he played for Melchester Rovers the answer would be emphatically “yes”. Try telling that to Ricky Ponting.