Blogs All-rounder problems will hit England
June 1st, 2009 by Warren AshurstAndrew Flintoff’s absence from the World Twenty20 looks like ending the home side’s hopes of lifting the trophy in front of their own fans.
The Lancashire ace has been forced to withdraw from the upcoming event due to his ongoing knee injury, which he aggravated in the recent Indian Premier League.
With Flintoff desperate to play in this summer’s Ashes series, the England selectors have been left with no alternative but to leave him out of the shortest version of the game. Yorkshire’s young star Adil Rashid replaces him in the squad.
Not only will England miss ‘Freddie’ for his experience, but his line and length with the ball will be a massive loss. Flintoff is seen as England’s only real all-rounder, who is feared with both the bat and ball.
Skipper Paul Collingwood, Dimitri Mascarenhas and Stuart Broad offer other all-round options, but neither has the ability to dominate a game in the way Flintoff can.
Despite a pretty average Twenty20 batting record, the 31-year-old has an excellent bowling economy rate of 6.44 in seven international matches. His best figures are 2-23 against South Africa and he would surely have been looking forward to bowling in English conditions with plenty of help for the seamers.
Collingwood though remains upbeat about his team’s chances, saying that ‘home advantage’ could give them a crucial edge over their rivals.
The Durham ace said: “We know what England is all about, we know the wickets well and the venues we’re playing.”
Collingwood also feels the in-form Ravi Bopara could be the key man in Flintoff’s absence, after the Essex star shone at the IPL as well as with his country in the Test and one-day arena. Bear this in mind if you decide to bet on Ravi Bopara.
With regards to ICC World Twenty20 betting, though, it’s going to need a massive improvement from their showing in the inaugural event in 2007, when England won only one of their five matches.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
I would have to say that Freddie now cannot be depended upon to play an entire series given his recent spate of injuries.
What remains surprising though is the lack of opportunities offered to someone like Owais Shah.
Yes, Bopara may be the man who can deliver. Against the West Indies, he looked like a complete batsman and on English conditions, he could prove to be more than just a fill-the-gap kind of bowler.