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Flintoff game for non-cricketing role in IPL
Former England skipper Andrew Flintoff said he had no qualms to get involved in the Indian Premier League in capacities other than a cricketer.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: November 30, 2010 04:09 PM IST
Read Time:4 min
Mumbai:
"I actually don't mind playing in it. But due to injury, I can't. I never actually thought about it (getting involved in other capacities). But now you have mentioned it why not.
The IPL is a spectacle you watch on TV. Its the best domestic competition in the world. You play in front of screen before hundred-thousand people," he told reporters here.
"When I played for Chennai in South Africa, I wanted to play for Chennai in every opportunity I got to do that. But I haven't given a thought to that yet. I have just retired.
It's just getting stuck a little bit," he added. The 33-year-old Flintoff said the feeling that he had retired from the game was still to sink in and he would have "desperately" loved to continue in the game if not for injuries.
"I retired recently. About two-three weeks ago. I retired from Test cricket last year. I was expected to play in one-day internationals, T20s for Lancashire, play for Chennai. It did not quite happen like that. The past six weeks have been strange. I have been in America doing a reality series. I have my mind taken off a little bit.
"On the realities that I'm no longer a cricketer and am not going to play for England again, not going to play for Lancashire again, I'm not someone who will say I don't miss cricket, I don't want to play again, I desperately do. I thought I could do for another 2-3 years. I'm thankful for the cricket I played but I would have loved to do that a little bit more," he said.
"He's an amazing man and a successful player. To play for so long as he has and to score so many runs as he has is amazing. He is somebody I have come to respect. I remember I had come to play for Lancashire under-13. And he was making his Test debut. He was only four years older than me. But he has been playing since then.
"I wanted to get him out. I wanted to impress him, get his respect. Good luck to him. Hope he doesn't stop at 50 (centuries) and goes on and on and on. He's been a good ambassador for the game," he added.
On Tendulkar's comparison with legendary cricketer Don Bradman, he said, "Never played against Bradman. I don't know. It is wrong in sport to compare heroes. In modern day cricket, Sachin is the best."
Flintoff said while the retirement of some of greats of the current crop of Indian cricketers would create a hole in the team, the country need not be bothered about it yet.
"It is a big question. I think (especially) when they are still playing and Sachin (Tendulkar) is in the peak of his life, isn't he? He keeps scoring runs. He could carry on for a long time.
"But you could possibly like Australia had (Matthew) Hayden, (Justin) Langer, (Adam) Gilchrist, (Glenn) McGrath, (Shane) Warne all finished at the same time. It does leave a hole in the side and needs rebuilding process.
"However, India are number one and playing fantastically well. I reckon they can carry on for as long as possible," he added.
The former all-rounder said being the host, India would be one of the firm favorites for next year's World Cup in the sub-continent along with Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
"I think the sub-continent sides are the favourites --India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka because of the conditions. However, England have also got a chance. Can't really count out Australia. But again I think India are going to be the favourites on home soil.
"But they are under pressure as Indians expect India to do well all the time and that could be a daunting task," he said.
Flintoff said though India were favourites, because of their number one tag in Test matches, facing the hosts in home condition would be a tough challenge in their forthcoming series against South Africa.
"India are going to be favourites as they are the number one team in the world. However, South Africa team is strong. But (such is) the depth in India's batting that they are going to score runs all the time. And once you score 400-500 runs it puts pressure on the opposition.
"I expect India to do well but South Africa is a tough tour. They have got players like Graeme Smith, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis," said Flintoff.
"(India has a) fine attack. (But) South Africa has got a good batting side (in) Smith, Kallis, A B De Villiers. You got to work hard for the wickets. If Indian batsmen score more runs they can give the bowlers a lot of time to bowl out the opposition," he said.
Commenting on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's back-to-back hundreds against New Zealand, Flintoff said he had the potential to score more runs.
"He is always been able to bat. He has got important runs against England in Tests and ODIs. I think its hard for someone who is labelled as a bowler. After having scored back-to-back centuries, he'll start thinking I can do this more often, I need to bat higher and higher.
"He hits the ball as hard as anyone. He's got a good eye. He's definitely got a talent to score more runs in my opinion," he added.
Recalling that he had played along side dashing batsman Virender Sehwag in a World XI match against Australia, Flintoff said the Indian opener was a phenomenal cricketer.
His promising career cut short due to injuries, former England skipper Andrew Flintoff on Monday said he had no qualms to get involved in the Indian Premier League in capacities other than a cricketer. "I actually don't mind playing in it. But due to injury, I can't. I never actually thought about it (getting involved in other capacities). But now you have mentioned it why not.
The IPL is a spectacle you watch on TV. Its the best domestic competition in the world. You play in front of screen before hundred-thousand people," he told reporters here.
"When I played for Chennai in South Africa, I wanted to play for Chennai in every opportunity I got to do that. But I haven't given a thought to that yet. I have just retired.
It's just getting stuck a little bit," he added. The 33-year-old Flintoff said the feeling that he had retired from the game was still to sink in and he would have "desperately" loved to continue in the game if not for injuries.
"I retired recently. About two-three weeks ago. I retired from Test cricket last year. I was expected to play in one-day internationals, T20s for Lancashire, play for Chennai. It did not quite happen like that. The past six weeks have been strange. I have been in America doing a reality series. I have my mind taken off a little bit.
"On the realities that I'm no longer a cricketer and am not going to play for England again, not going to play for Lancashire again, I'm not someone who will say I don't miss cricket, I don't want to play again, I desperately do. I thought I could do for another 2-3 years. I'm thankful for the cricket I played but I would have loved to do that a little bit more," he said.
"He's an amazing man and a successful player. To play for so long as he has and to score so many runs as he has is amazing. He is somebody I have come to respect. I remember I had come to play for Lancashire under-13. And he was making his Test debut. He was only four years older than me. But he has been playing since then.
"I wanted to get him out. I wanted to impress him, get his respect. Good luck to him. Hope he doesn't stop at 50 (centuries) and goes on and on and on. He's been a good ambassador for the game," he added.
On Tendulkar's comparison with legendary cricketer Don Bradman, he said, "Never played against Bradman. I don't know. It is wrong in sport to compare heroes. In modern day cricket, Sachin is the best."
Flintoff said while the retirement of some of greats of the current crop of Indian cricketers would create a hole in the team, the country need not be bothered about it yet.
"It is a big question. I think (especially) when they are still playing and Sachin (Tendulkar) is in the peak of his life, isn't he? He keeps scoring runs. He could carry on for a long time.
"But you could possibly like Australia had (Matthew) Hayden, (Justin) Langer, (Adam) Gilchrist, (Glenn) McGrath, (Shane) Warne all finished at the same time. It does leave a hole in the side and needs rebuilding process.
"However, India are number one and playing fantastically well. I reckon they can carry on for as long as possible," he added.
The former all-rounder said being the host, India would be one of the firm favorites for next year's World Cup in the sub-continent along with Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
"I think the sub-continent sides are the favourites --India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka because of the conditions. However, England have also got a chance. Can't really count out Australia. But again I think India are going to be the favourites on home soil.
"But they are under pressure as Indians expect India to do well all the time and that could be a daunting task," he said.
Flintoff said though India were favourites, because of their number one tag in Test matches, facing the hosts in home condition would be a tough challenge in their forthcoming series against South Africa.
"India are going to be favourites as they are the number one team in the world. However, South Africa team is strong. But (such is) the depth in India's batting that they are going to score runs all the time. And once you score 400-500 runs it puts pressure on the opposition.
"I expect India to do well but South Africa is a tough tour. They have got players like Graeme Smith, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis," said Flintoff.
"(India has a) fine attack. (But) South Africa has got a good batting side (in) Smith, Kallis, A B De Villiers. You got to work hard for the wickets. If Indian batsmen score more runs they can give the bowlers a lot of time to bowl out the opposition," he said.
Commenting on off-spinner Harbhajan Singh's back-to-back hundreds against New Zealand, Flintoff said he had the potential to score more runs.
"He is always been able to bat. He has got important runs against England in Tests and ODIs. I think its hard for someone who is labelled as a bowler. After having scored back-to-back centuries, he'll start thinking I can do this more often, I need to bat higher and higher.
"He hits the ball as hard as anyone. He's got a good eye. He's definitely got a talent to score more runs in my opinion," he added.
Recalling that he had played along side dashing batsman Virender Sehwag in a World XI match against Australia, Flintoff said the Indian opener was a phenomenal cricketer.
Topics mentioned in this article
Cricket Andrew Flintoff
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