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 Follow the Leader
Now that the England squad has touched down in Australia, things have been incredibly difficult for me. The papers, radio and TV will have been full of England setting off to try to retain them Down Under and I’ve done all I can to not hear, see or read a word. I desperately want Fred and England to go there and come back with the Ashes. But I’m bitterly disappointed that I’m not there. It’s specially hard because the two Ashes contests I’ve been involved in have been my best times as a cricketer, making 630 runs against them in 2002-03 and then last summer.
I don’t think of myself as being unlucky. The opposite, in fact, because, all being well, I’ll have the chance to play again. A lot of others don’t get that chance. I’ve never worked so hard as I have in the past 16 weeks. I’ve been testing the knee more and more, but the reality is that I’ll only ever know how it is when I play five days of cricket. That’s going to be the real test. All I can say is that it feels different now.
I won’t be going to Australia for a jolly-up or a few training sessions that I could do back here. I’ll be going because Wayne has said: ‘You’re as ready to play as you will ever be’. If I manage to get out to Brisbane in time for the first Test, part of me will be suffering withdrawal from not playing in it, but at the same time the positive will be confirmation that I’m close to playing again. I’ve got to guard against looking too far forward. I just want to get my whites on and play again.
A lot has been made of my views on Fred as captain and whether or not I think he can handle the job. Fred’s had to grow up fast; having a family and kids as well as his ever-growing fame have caused him to mature quite a bit.
The huge positive is that Fred wanted the job. He knows all about the massive responsibility that goes with it and he still stuck his hand up and said he wanted to take it on. If that kind of player, with the aura he has in our dressing room and the respect he has from the Aussies, wants the captaincy, it’s a hell of an ask not to give it to him. Captaining against Australia is different from captaining against anyone else because they put you under so much pressure on and off the field, and only time will tell how he handles it. But over the last few years every hurdle that has been put in front of him he has cleared by a mile and I see no reason why he shouldn’t jump this one.
He’s going to have to be clever about when to bowl himself. He’s a truly great bowler but I don’t think he’s going to be able to bowl 30 or 40 overs in an innings any more because his ankle won’t stand it. Last summer, I would highlight little areas of play when I needed Flintoff fresh; a battle with Adam Gilchrist, or if Matthew Hayden or Ricky Ponting got himself in. Fred needs to know he’s the man who’s going to have to get those wickets.
He’s going to have to store up his energies for those crucial moments and then judge when is the moment to throw the ball to himself. That will be the key to his performance as a bowler and maybe his captaincy.
 Up and Running Again
I have 67 reasons to feel good about returning to cricket after helping Yorkshire to a six-wicket win over Scotland on Monday.
It felt good to be back in the middle after such a long time, but although I was a little sore when I woke up today that was only to be expected. I feel that I am back on track, however, and hopeful of making a full recovery.
I feel like I have done everything I can off the field to ensure that this time there are no new setbacks similar to the one in India. My knee probably wasn’t tested enough in a cricket sense given the timings of the tour and the schedule.
But I have now undergone a thorough rehabilitation programme and although it’s been hard work, I’m sure it was the right way to go.
Only a few weeks ago, I had a few problems with twisting and turning, but when I came back yesterday I knew my body could cope with whatever happened.
I have too much respect for the game and Yorkshire, so I wouldn’t have played if I’d thought I wasn’t up to it. As soon as I knew I could play a full repertoire of shots, I wanted to come back.
Now I’m hoping to be part of Yorkshire’s county championship match against Hampshire. I couldn’t have asked for a better comeback, but this is only the start. Now I must test myself and my body over a few more weeks.
At least I felt as good as I have done for a long time.
 Time To Back Freddie
I’ve been reduced from captain to non-travelling member of The Barmy Army for this last Test against India as I continue my rehabilitation from knee surgery.
My fingers are firmly crossed for Freddie and the boys because it would be tremendous if they could force a win and draw the series. If it wasn’t enough for the team to lose me, Marcus Trescothick, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles then to be without Steve Harmison for such a crucial game is a tough blow.
India are such an experienced side and we needed to match them in that department, but I’m sure Fred will be giving his all again for the cause.
I have always felt that to burden somebody who already has a huge work load in the team with the captaincy was perhaps too much, but Freddie has done well and I’m sure he will get the best out of the players he has at his disposal.
We should all get behind him and the team in a bid to pull off what would be an outstanding victory. I’m sure the spirit and determination will be at optimum levels. Good luck guys. You can do it.
 Watching And Waiting For Second Chance
It’s been a frustrating time, but it will soon have to be decision time for me and the tour of Pakistan,
There is still a slight chance of me being fit for the start of the Second Test, but if I don’t make it then it will be time to come home and get it sorted out.
The right knee is worse than it was when it caused me to miss a match at Lord’s, but not quite as bad as first feared, but it’s no use me hanging around here if I’m not playing.
I’ll give myself the best chance of making it, but it’s bad enough watching the lads practise without having to sit in the dressing room and watch everything on the pitch knowing that I can’t do anything about anything.
It’s the first time I’ve watched a game from the dressing room and it’s difficult. It’s been frustrating for me and the team because we had a bit of momentum going, but all the players are behind Marcus Trescothick and hopefully tomorrow they will finish the first real job of the tour.
Even though they have lost the captain, the vibe around the dressing room is still good. In my position, I don’t want to get too close because once the game’s started it’s up to Tres and Duncan Fletcher to come up with the best tactics.
I’ve just told Tees to do the job the way he wants to. It would be totally wrong for me to stand there and try to take part in the game.
The bottom line is that there is no doubt I have a problem with my knee and the sooner I get it sorted out the better.
 Back To Work After Helping Aid Effort
We all realised that winning the Ashes was a life-changing experience which we’ve enjoyed, but it was back to reality today.
Our first day of the tour to Pakistan was dominated by a wonderful knock from Marcus Trescothick who, aided by some stubborn resistance by the tail, rescued us from an embarrassing situation
There’s no use playing well against Australia and then leaving it there, we have to move on and forget about them for a while. We have to do well in Pakistan and India after Christmas before we can even think about becoming the best team in the world.
But before we got back to our day jobs yesterday, I had time to take part in something far more important than cricket. Together with Tres, we flew with the RAF’s Number 27 squadron to areas worse affected by the earthquake that has so far claimed about 80,000 lives.
It wasn’t until we visited the hospital that we realised just how big a disaster it had been. But to see so many children still smiling despite what they have lost and been through, lifts the spirit. So much work is still to be done, however.
over the years. The likes of Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart, Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain know how hard it is so we are the lucky 11 to win them back. |
