More players could go Flintoff way: Ponting by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

A Flintoff, RT Ponting

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DateLine: 16th September 2009

 

Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting expect more cricketers to follow in the footsteps of Andrew Flintoff and turn freelancer.

 

According to the Australian duo, players like Flintoff have shown the way and others might follow suit.

 

"It probably could happen more and more, especially with guys retiring from Test cricket and wanting to play only the shorter versions of the game," Ponting said, even though he was sympathetic with Flintoff, who quit Test cricket after repeated injury break-downs.

 

"You can't begrudge players for doing that, especially someone like Flintoff who's played 70-odd Test matches and it's his body that's basically forced him into retirement from Test cricket anyway," Ponting was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

 

"So the shorter versions of the game is what he has right now and Andrew Symonds is probably in exactly the same boat.

 

Flintoff in fact has rejected an incremental contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board to focus on one-dayers and Twenty20.

 

Warne also had more or less the same view on the issue.

 

"The number one priority should always be to play for your country. But now there are other opportunities for players," the retired spinner said.

 

"It could be (an option) if you've achieved what you wanted to achieve in international cricket. Andrew Flintoff - his body was telling him 'I just can't go on'. He knows now his body can't get through Test match cricket," Warne said.