A fit Fred should spend a year as pro (From Lancashire Telegraph)

A fit Fred should spend a year as pro

11:30am Wednesday 4th August 2010 in Talking Cricket column By Matt Donlan, Sports reporter

So, Andrew Flintoff will not play cricket again this year.

The TV news ticker went into overdrive yesterday morning when the news came out from Old Trafford.

The short, five-line statement from the Lancashire public relations machine caused rumblings – yet that is not exactly news to cause seismic shock.

Because from week to week it has seemed increasingly unlikely that the cricketer known as Freddie would actually step on the field again.

He made all the right noises at Lancashire’s media day back in April yet even then there was doubt creeping in, especially when he refused to directly answer suggestions that he was finished.

There was even talk of him playing for St Annes in the Northern League game at Darwen the other week.

Er, no. He didn’t do that and preferred to spend the weekend in Belgium.

His latest comeback was thought to be this week for the Lancashire seconds at Crosby.

He is now not fit to play in that.

It is a shame. Flintoff on his day was a genuine world class matchwinner.

The injuries – and falling off the odd pedalo – have taken their toll and curtailed a career that promised much and delivered plenty.

So now it may be sadly time for Flintoff to call it a day.

There is no point in him ruining his body for the extra millions that participation in the Champions League would have given him.

But if he does feel able to come back next year I think it would be great to see him play as a club professional for a year.

He could afford to come cheaply and would pack the grounds.

And it would be nice to see him give something back to the level from which he came.

That would be a fitting end to a career.