New Delhi, Oct. 3: Andrew Flintoff is expected to bat, bowl, field, lead and win matches for England whose key players have been in and out of hospital doors since winning the Ashes last year.
No all-rounder in the Champions Trophy carries the same burden as Flintoff, a major inspiration in a struggling side that has won just two of their last 10 one-day internationals.
South African Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock, Australians Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds, West Indians Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo, Pakistan’s Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi, as well as New Zealander Scott Sytris can ply their all-round trade in much less demanding conditions.
England turn to Flintoff in a crisis and it is a tribute to his extraordinary skill that he has rarely let them down, at home or away.
England were in a shambles when they visited India early this year, losing captain Michael Vaughan and paceman Simon Jones to injuries and then Marcus Trescothick (personal reasons) even before the action had begun.
Captaincy was thrust upon Flintoff, who eventually proved he was made of stern stuff by securing a creditable 1-1 draw in the Test series, scoring 264 runs and taking 11 wickets.
Ace Australian paceman Glenn McGrath has said Flintoff may find it difficult playing so many roles.
"It’s a massive ask, there’s no doubt about it. He (Flintoff) is such a key player, not only with their bowling, but in the field and in the batting," said McGrath.
"So if you throw the captaincy on top of it, maybe it will take the focus off his bowling and batting a little bit more and onto the captaincy and have an effect on his game.
"But he’s a class player, and if anyone can handle it, he can."
The Champions Trophy is more of a fitness-testing tournament for England whose top priority is to defend the Ashes in Australia.
Flintoff is coming off an ankle injury which forced him to skip the recent home Test series against Pakistan. He may fail to carry England into the semi-finals, but will get opportunities to assess his form and fitness.
