da gbg bet： Super Fred’s decision to go freelance has generated much debate
da bet7： Cricinfo staff19-Sep-2009″‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ And keep asking yourself, again and again.”
Times”If Fred suddenly starts saying ‘I won’t go to Bangladesh and I won’t play in the Pakistan series but I will go to Australia and go to the World Cup’ – that’s when it becomes dicey.”
“It’s the way they want to play their cricket [and] you can’t begrudge the players for doing that, especially someone like Flintoff who’s played 70-odd Test matches and it’s his body that’s basically forced him into retirement from Test cricket.”
“If Freddie is committed to playing for England he’s still a great asset for us in the shortest forms of the game.”
“His move does not herald the era of the freelance mercenary, moving magnet-like to whichever franchise pays the most.”
“I would find it odd if anyone thought it a wise move to throw money towards damaged goods with a relatively modest T20 record before they had seen evidence of fitness.”
Guardian “He’s given England plenty over the years. We’re talking about a two-time Ashes winner, a former England captain, a mainstay of both Test and one-day teams and a man who has inspired others to greatness.”
“For Flintoff these are the Road Runner years, a fascinating period in any celebrity sportsman’s life where it’s clear, but only at a distance, that you’ve already gone skittering out over the edge of the cliff, legs pumping, held up by fame-momentum.”
Guardian “I can understand Flintoff’s thinking. Without a central contract a player can also appear in domestic tournaments in other countries for good money and there are lot of options available now.”
“He’s had a number of injuries, and for his own good, he needs to take control of the few years he has left in him.”