Flintoff vs. Kallis

[Mr. Wicket]

Christ. What a contest between fast bowler and batsman. Absolutely exhilarating stuff. Flintoff sprinting in furiously, trying to batter Kallis or his stumps, and Kallis trying to hang on and counter with every bit of his skill - before just losing his stumps to a brilliant yorker. Outstanding cricket this.

[ucilite]

no doubt about it

[Predator_05]

And now a wicked bouncer to get rid of AB de Villiers. Line was perfect, came onto him in a flash so he just HAD to play at it, and sure enough, he hit it right into the air for an easy catch Flintoff turning it on.

[f.b.m]

Cant believe I missed this. Link me to a video of this if/when you find one, PLEASE!

[Sachinism]

damn i better catch the highlights in a bit

[Dravid]

05 ashes freddy is back

[Predator_05]

05 ashes freddy is back

No, he isn't there yet. The '05 version allied pace with real accuracy. The Flintoff of today has pace and puts in the same effort, but hasn't quite found that same level of accuracy. After the Kallis ball, he got a bit carried away trying to bowl the same yorker. Couldn't keep it straight and conceded a few boundaries in the process - direction was a bit off. He is getting there though.

[Sachinism]

Just saw the highlights and damnnn that was some serious bowling, Kallis looked lost Freddie was unlucky not to get the LBW decision but he made up for it by bowling him with a beauty But it looks like when a tall fast bowler bowls a yorker for the Pavillion End, the batsmen are unable to pick it what could be the reason for that?

[f.b.m]

Just saw the highlights and damnnn that was some serious bowling, Kallis looked lost Freddie was unlucky not to get the LBW decision but he made up for it by bowling him with a beauty But it looks like when a tall fast bowler bowls a yorker for the Pavillion End, the batsmen are unable to pick it what could be the reason for that?

Maybe the same reason as this: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Tv0y6PLldk]YouTube - Freddie at his best[/ame] (Watch from ~ 3:30)

[MalikBrother]

Seen it today Live. It was best scene ever. Loved the way Flintoff has troubled Kallis before got his wicket. Flintoff was on his best today. He has also caused trouble enough to Boucher as well. Fortunately, he survived somehow. If you look at Boucher face, it was worth it.

[Sachinism]

could be something similar anyone know whats behind the bowler at the Pavillion end at Edgbaston

[Kohum]

Aleem Dar turning down the appeal seem to have fired Freddie up. Sooooooper !

[Ram]

I badly need a video of this!

[King]

Now watch out of the Pommie papers go beserk over Freddi and he will take years to produce a similar spell. Ganted he's special but he's not as great as he's made out to be. At best he's only as good as Chris Cairns or Jacob Oram. Kallis is woefully out of form too, he's been struggling to score runs consistently these days. Perhaps his days of gold has come to end too. Rahul Dravid, Kallis, Ponting, Vaughan are few of the top players that are struggling these days.

[kumble_rocks]

The last time I saw Flintoff bowl so well was in the Ashes series of 2005 . He made Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist appear like Tail-enders back then . It's a pity that this guy can't stay out of injuries ... Ravi , you got to give him some slack , it's difficult for an oft injured player to get back into rhythm and perform like a match winner. Talent wise , he is on par with Kapil Dev , imho..

[King]

The last time I saw Flintoff bowl so well was in the Ashes series of 2005 . He made Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist appear like Tail-enders back then . It's a pity that this guy can't stay out of injuries ... Ravi , you got to give him some slack , it's difficult for an oft injured player to get back into rhythm and perform like a match winner. Talent wise , he is on par with Kapil Dev , imho..

Sorry KR Freedi is nowhere near Kapil Dev. Freddi most of his career has bowled on designer wickets suited for faster bowlers. Kapil Dev bowled on pitches that hardly rose above knee height and Indians played 4 spinners along side Kapil Dev. The number of games Kapil Dev has won with the bat and ball are probably in triple figures. As I said, Freddi at best is on par with Cairns, Oram or Pollock. Kapil, Imran, Akram, Hadlee, Botham are in a different league. It's not like I don't rate Freddi, he's good but not as great as he's made out to be. The numbers don't lie and you only have to look at his records.

[Mr. Wicket]

Freddy's on par with Cairns, surely. Both have VERY similar records at this point (Flintoff's played a few more tests than Cairnsy, and the averages with bat and ball are quite similar), but both have the same ability to really lift their team with individual inspired performances.

[King]

Freddy's on par with Cairns, surely. Both have VERY similar records at this point (Flintoff's played a few more tests than Cairnsy, and the averages with bat and ball are quite similar), but both have the same ability to really lift their team with individual inspired performances.

I agree with your view absolutely. It'll be a shame to put Freddi or Cairn in the Kapil Dev, Hadlee or Imran's class.

[Mr. Wicket]

Just looked at the records - it's amazing to see how close they run: Cairns (62 tests): Average 33.53 with the bat, 5 tons and 22 fifties Average 29.40 with the ball, 218 wickets Flintoff (68 tests): Average 32.41 with the bat, 5 tons and 24 fifties Average 32.24 with the ball, 198 wickets (prior to this game) What's really sad is that Cairns' numbers are in fact superior to Flintoff's with bat and ball - yet he gets a fraction of the recognition, hype and praise that big Freddie gets.

[King]

That's because Cairnsy is not from England but is from New Zealand. :winky: English players even when they are good they are hailed as greats, no secret about that.