FROM THE ARCHIVE: Freddie Flintoff’s firsts

In cricket, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is best remembered for his heroics in the 2005 and 2009 Ashes series. Outside of the sport, he has had successes in boxing, musical theatre and presenting; among other things

In cricket, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is best remembered for his heroics in the 2005 and 2009 Ashes series. Outside of the sport, he has had successes in boxing, musical theatre and presenting; among other things. Back in 2011, Edward Craig asked him about his earliest memories in cricket. 

My first... game

I was six and my brother, who was about nine, was playing in the under-14s and they were a player short. I was wearing a hand-me-down Man United tracksuit from the family across the road.

Wicket

On the path that ran down by our house, my brother and I used to play there. Mum hated it because there was a panelling fence down the middle and, every time a ball hit it, it made a horrible noise.

Time being recognised in public

A few weeks ago I was in Glasgow and a Scottish fellow came up to me and said: “Aren’t you that bloke off League of Their Own?”

^{Celebrating the wicket of Shane Warne in '05}

Playing in front of a crowd

When I was 17 I played a 40-over game against Yorkshire in front of 1,400 at Old Trafford. David Byas dropped me at slip. I am sure he dropped it on purpose to keep me in. Whenever I’ve asked, he says not – but he always says it with a smile. If I got out, Neil Fairbrother would have come in. It was so easy, as if someone threw it to him underarm, and he just clapped it down.

Bat

Slazenger V12 Colt. I was nine, I’d saved money up and I went to a shop on Deansgate in Manchester. It was £21.50 and size five. I’ve still got it. I got a good three years out of it for Lancashire under-11s. I remember it was toss-up between the V12 Colt, which I ended up getting, or a Duncan Fearnley VR.

Disappointment on the pitch

I was 11 and it was the end of the season at the Dartford Festival. I got out caught behind and I genuinely didn’t hit it. I went back and cried under a big tree. I was inconsolable.

^{Flintoff in Lancashire colours}

Telling off from a coach

From John Emburey on an England A tour. He gave me a right roasting when we were in Zimbabwe. At this one game it was raining but the Flowers were playing and convinced us to carry on as there was a big crowd. Then Grant Flower started to bowl over the wicket into the dirt. It really wasn’t the point – make a spectacle, bowl on the man’s side and we will see what we can do.

So I couldn’t be bothered. I hit three or four sixes and got out – and Swanny went in and did the same. Afterwards, Embers came into the dressing room – and I have so much respect for him – he sat us both down and just shouted at us. His language was quite choice as well. I remembered it – by the end of the tour I averaged about 85 with the bat and got picked for the World Cup. It made a massive difference to my career.

Hurt by the ball

I was 10. I was playing senior cricket on my dad’s team against Norcross for Dutton Forshaw, and a big brute of a man hit me on the arm. I was batting and I cried behind my helmet and just carried on batting.

^{The allrounder hits out against India}

You saw your name in print

I was about five. We had gone to watch snooker at the Guildhall in Preston as mum’s mate Susan worked there and used to get tickets. Mum, aunty Ennis and I were coming out just as Steve Davis was leaving. I asked him to sign my book and someone from the paper took a picture. My name was in the caption.

Hero

It was always cricketers. Put anyone from the world of entertainment in front of me and I’m always in awe of cricketers: Beefy, Viv, Sachin and Lancashire players – Fairbrother and Wasim Akram.

On-pitch mistake

Playing Lancashire under-11s at Aigburth in Liverpool. A didn’t know you could go off when fielding, so I wet my pants. I think I got away with it. I was only nine.

This article first appeared in the December 2011 issue of The Cricketer