When I briefly heard the news that Andrew Flintoff had to have another operation on his injured knee I thought to myself that he might have already played his last game in any form of cricket, that the knee was turning out to be worse than expected.
Since then I have discovered that Flintoff is so pleased with the outcome of his latest operation that when he returns he plans to play in all forms of cricket for Lancashire, with the most notable thing being his plans to play in four day matches, which he originally said he wouldn’t be playing in.
This leaves me to wonder has Andrew Flintoff got desires on playing in one more big Test series for England?
Why else would he want to play four day cricket for Lancs? In doing so he could prove his fitness to the management and to any doubters in the England camp.
Further to this I also believe he must have a feeling that he has unfinished business ‘Down Under’ after the disasterous 5-0 defeat he suffered as captain, a time he described as the lowest point of his career.
A competitor like Flintoff wouldn’t want his last memories of Australia to be of such a low point.
During his time out he may well have seen how Australia performed against West Indies and Pakistan, and seen how they looked beatable at times.
He also might have realised how much he missed the England set up when watching the Test series against South Africa, noticing that England look to be improving as a side under Strauss and Flower, seeing a new found backbone that wasn’t there before.
Taking all this into account and his ‘you live for the day attitude’, Flintoff might well be thinking England can keep the Ashes when they go there later in the year, maybe he just might be considering one last revenge mission against the Australians before he finally brings the curtain down on his international career.
If it does happen, remember where you read it first!