It's time for England to find a replacement for injury-plagued Flintoff

 

 

Andrew Flintoff has been one of the best all-rounders ever to have played cricket. Hailed by many as the true heir to Ian Botham’s legacy, 'Freddie' didn’t disappoint at all.

Explosive innings' for Lancashire and England, as well as some more than useful spells with the ball showing his mastery over ‘reverse swing’, have won many a match for his side. Who can ever forget what Michael Vaughan famously dubbed ‘Fred’s Test’ – during the 2005 Ashes when Flintoff’s magnificent efforts with both bat and ball helped England win the Ashes that year.

And now, with New Zealand’s short tour of England having just started, English cricket fans have yet again heard a story far too familiar to them – “Andrew Flintoff set to miss test series due to ankle injury."

Why is Flintoff so susceptible to such repeated ankle injuries? Fast bowlers around the world will tell you that the ankle is the most easily injured part of their body. At the time of landing during the bowling run up, as much as three times their body weight lands on the ankle joint.