The talisman of English Cricket may not be able to rise again for the final few Ashes tests. So England need to fins a quick replacement and fast. The obvious choice would be move Stuart Broad up the batting order. So, farewell then, Freddie. The ankles, the knees and the brain are finally giving up the toil required for a full time bowler.
This is not the time or the place to assess Freddie's contribution to English cricket, whether his was an unfulfilled talent or the ramifications for Test cricket of another senior player opting for the more lucrative formats.
For Andrew Strauss it appears his announcement has given him freedom to risk his physical wellbeing in one last charge at the old adversary; his Herculean efforts at Lord's having turned England from big underdogs to 2.16 favourites to win the Ashes. Australia are now the outsiders of the three at 3.75 with the drawn series trading at 3.55.
There was every sign that this would be one hell of a swansong but it seems his marrathon may be over now. how can England cope for the coming tests without the famous Flintoff spirit?
