End of Freddie?

Andrew Flintoff

It was disappointing but not surprising to hear that Andrew Flintoff will miss the whole season with his ongoing injury problems.
I don't know the exact state of Fred's knee, but it is obviously not a good sign when you have been out for a year, as he has, and you keep suffering setbacks.
Realistically, I cannot see him playing at the top level again for his country.
It is not only the physical side, which has been well documented. There is also the mental aspect. He played through considerable pain during last summer's Ashes - at this stage in his life can he drive himself to do it again, and would he even want to?
Anybody's fitness would be way down after a year on the sidelines, plus there would be some serious rustiness.
You can never say never with Fred, but it is a big ask for him to find the physical and mental reserves to drag himself back to his old level of cricket.
From England's point of view, it is very questionable whether they would even want him back. There is no question a fully-fit Andrew Flintoff is a huge asset to any side, but England are now looking to the future and moving on.
Turning back to Fred could compromise their recent improvement as a one-day side, as it would only be a short-term measure and his fitness clearly cannot be guaranteed.
I suspect in the next few months he will make a decision about his future. Even if an international comeback is out of the picture, there may be some sort of role as a 'freelance' Twenty20 player.
He may no longer command such huge fees as when he was in the IPL's last auction and the Chennai Super Kings paid over £1 million for him, but he is still box office material.
Alternatively, he might decide his days as a player are over. He will have no shortage of job opportunities as a pundit, coach or after-dinner speaker, whatever he chooses to turn to next.
I'd love to see him charging in to bowl again, but he has nothing left to prove, and if this is the end he can retire in the knowledge he will be remembered as one of the best and most popular players of his generation.
(Graham Thorpe wrote this article on the Eurosport website).