Strauss refuses to blame IPL for Flintoff injury
England captain Andrew Strauss said it was wrong to criticise Andrew
Flintoff for playing in the Indian Premier League after the all-rounder
sustained a knee injury ahead of an Ashes series.
Flintoff underwent on Tuesday what the England and Wales Cricket
Board (ECB) said was "successful" keyhole surgery on his right knee
after the hero of England's 2005 Ashes win injured himself playing for
the Chennai Super Kings in South Africa.
England cricket chiefs are confident the 31-year-old Flintoff will be
fit in time for June's World Twenty20 tournament, which England are
hosting, and the subsequent Ashes series against Australia.
Given Flintoff's lengthy history of injuries, and the fact he is on
an England central contract which ought to give the national management
some control over where and when he plays, the decision to let him take
part in the IPL was controversial from the start.
Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain accused the likes of Flintoff of
wanting to "have their cake and eat it". But Strauss, speaking after
making 150 for Middlesex against Leicestershire at Southgate in an
innings where Australia rising star Phillip Hughes was unbeaten on 99,
was sympathetic towards Flintoff's plight.
"I don't think he had a niggle when he went to be fair, it developed
while he was over there," Strauss said.
"It's a tricky situation, but you can get injured anywhere, whether
he was playing in the IPL or for Lancashire (Flintoff's county), you
can't control that particularly.
"It was a decision for the players themselves as to whether they
wanted to go over and play in it and you can understand their decisions
as there were big benefits in terms of experiencing Twenty20 cricket."
Left-handed opening batsman Strauss added: "It's not something you'd
hold against a player. It's a tough decision to turn down that sort of
money. "Let's hope his recovery is as swift as possible and that he
comes back feeling very comfortable with his body."
Flintoff is now set to miss the return visit of the West Indies
having missed two Tests, two one-day internationals and a Twenty20 in
the Caribbean following a hip injury.
Since the fourth operation on his left ankle in 2006, Flintoff has
played in just 13 of England's subsequent 36 Tests.
"I really felt for Freddie when I heard about this (knee injury)
because he had two injuries in the West Indies, he just looked like he
was getting back and then he gets injured again," said Strauss.
"It's very hard for him to get any real momentum and form. It's been
a very frustrating few months for Freddie to be fair.
"We really hope that he swiftly recovers from this and by the time
the Ashes start he is feeling as fit and healthy as possible.
LONDON, AFP
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