Flintoff looks to science to fulfil dream
ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Flintoff believes he is ready to resume battle with the Australians at Edgbaston tomorrow – thanks to revolutionary treatment on his injured knee.
Flintoff, 31, has been sleeping with a special compression machine on his troublesome joint to help ease the discomfort he experienced after the historic second Test victory at Lord’s.
The Lancastrian took five second innings wickets to seal a 115-run victory, and the man-of-the-match award, at Lord’s, but, up until yesterday, hadn’t been able to bowl at full capacity since.
But with the aid of the ‘Game Ready’ wrap designed using NASA spacesuit technology, Flintoff was able to bowl a pain-free 10-minute stint at Edgbaston and is confident of facing Australia in Birmingham.
“After the Test match at Lord’s last week my knee was a bit sore but I’ve been icing it and getting treatment from Lancashire physio Dave Roberts,” he explained. “I’ve been in the gym and have to prove my fitness at training. After every session I’ve been icing it and now I have this machine that I put on every night.”
Of his chances of being fit for tomorrow morning, Flintoff added: “Last week I bowled in some discomfort. But I managed to bowl my overs and get through.
“I managed to bowl at a decent pace so I’ll hopefully prove this afternoon that I’m fine and hopefully the weather will keep away on Thursday at Edgbaston.”
But while Flintoff looked to be winning his fitness battle, Australia have announced that fast bowler Brett Lee will once again miss out after failing to recover from the side strain, which ruled him out of the first two Tests.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke confirmed: “I am not sure exactly how far away he is but I think he is out of contention for Thursday.”