I’D DROP ANYONE TO GET JOFRA IN THIS TEAM!
Flintoff says ‘brilliant’ Archer must go to the World Cup
ANDREW FLINTOFF insists Jofra Archer must be included in England’s final World Cup squad and says he would drop anyone to accommodate him.
The man who played in three World Cups has seen enough of Archer to believe he must be fast-tracked into a tournament England will be favourites to win.
‘I think he’s brilliant,’ said Flintoff, speaking in his role as a World Cup ambassador at the launch of the tournament’s official song.
‘I was watching him bowl the other day and I found it so frustrating that a bloke can bowl so fast with what looks like so little effort. And he’s got all the tricks — slower balls, bouncers, yorkers. He bats as well. He’s got to be in.’
‘Freddie’ had a simple answer when asked which of the bowlers who have helped take England to the top of the world one- day rankings will have to make way.
‘Anyone!’ said Flintoff. ‘If I was already in the squad I’d just make sure I raised my game so I didn’t miss out. It’s international sport. It’s competitive.
‘I know there’s a thing about him qualifying but we’ve done this for years. When I was a kid we were watching Allan Lamb and Robin Smith and then we waited for Graeme Hick to qualify. We had KP, too, so it’s not a new thing. Rightly or wrongly, it happens.’
Flintoff, 41, also tipped Ben Stokes to put his problems behind him and have a major impact in this biggest of all summers with the World Cup and Ashes.
‘The World Twenty20 probably knocked his confidence but that can happen bowling at the death,’ said Flintoff of the four successive last-over sixes conceded by Stokes to West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite in the 2016 final in India.
‘After that and what happened the other year (in Bristol) you just have to find your feet again. He’s always involved in the big moments and he seems to be that lad who lifts the team. I think he has come through the other side and I believe we’re about to see the best of Ben Stokes. I hope so because I genuinely love watching him. You wouldn’t be surprised if he steals the show this summer and if he does we can all forget about 2005 and move on ourselves!’
It was good to see one of the heroes of 2005 talking so enthusiastically about the game as he promoted the song Stand By by Loryn and Rudimental.
Flintoff, who has enjoyed considerable success in his new television and stage career away from cricket, has not always enjoyed a comfortable relationship with the game since his retirement. But he made clear yesterday that he still relishes it.
‘I’ve been very lucky but my first love has always been cricket,’ said Flintoff. ‘ One of the reasons I didn’t want to work in the game when I retired was that I didn’t want to resent it but you’d be surprised how much I do watch.
‘My boys play and I travel around with them and coach. And I’m on the board at Lancashire so I still have an involvement in the game. There’s a lot going on but I’ve got an ambition to coach more at some point.’
‘He’s frustrating... he makes everything look so easy’