Ahead of World Cup, Andrew Flintoff names player who can ‘steal the show’

Andrew Flintoff believes Ben Stokes can “steal the show” for England in a home season featuring both the World Cup and the Ashes.

For the first time since the inaugural men’s World Cup in1975, England are staging arguably the two biggest events in their calendar —the one-day showpiece and a Test series against arch-rivals Australia — in thesame season.

   

For a multi-format cricketer such as Stokes, a dynamicpace-bowling all-rounder of a similar kind to the now-retired Flintoff, itcould be a career-defining summer.

Stokes, however, has yet to hit the heights he showed beforebeing acquitted of affray by an English court last year following an incidentoutside a Bristol nightclub in the early hours of the morning.

Flintoff believes Stokes’ bowling confidence may have beenset back by being hit for four successive sixes by the West Indies’ CarlosBrathwaite in the last over of a 2016 World Twenty20 final in Kolkata thatEngland had been poised to win.

But Flintoff said that was partly a consequence of Stokes’willingness to take responsiblity at key stages.

“With Ben he’s just different,” Flintoff told reporters inLondon on Tuesday.

“As a batter he can bat three, he can bat four — hisbowling’s getting better all the time.” “The World T20 probably knocked hisconfidence a little bit. That can happen, bowling at the death,” added Flintoffat an event to publicise the official song of the World Cup, ‘Stand By’ byLoryn and Rudimental.

“He’s always in the big moments of a game. He seems to bethat lad who lifts the team.” Former England captain Flintoff’s career alsofeatured its fair share of off-field controversy, with the 41-year-old sayingthis could take a toll on a player’s form.

“I think since what happened the year before last, it’salways hard sometimes,” he said.

“You’ve just got to find your feet again. You’re playing forthe team but you’re also playing a little bit for acceptance as well — for thecrowd, for the people coming to watch you.

“I think he has come through the other side and I thinkwe’re about to see the best of Ben Stokes. Or I hope so, because I genuinelylove watching him.” Flintoff, a central figure with both bat and ball whenEngland regained the Ashes on home soil in 2005, said the season ahead would bethe ideal stage for Stokes to shine.

“World Cup, Ashes — it’s all to play for,” he insisted.

“As a character and player like Ben, you wouldn’t besurprised if he just steals the show.”We can (then) all forget about 2005 and move onwith ourselves!”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 × two =