England, August 25: Andrew Flintoff, who was due to have knee surgery last night having cut ties with Test matches following England’s Ashes victory, conceded yesterday that he fell short of greatness as a player in the five-day game.
The 31-year-old was due to see his surgeon Andy Williams in London 24 hours after leaving Tests amid the euphoria of a second home series victory over Australia. He will have an arthroscopy on his right knee and is as yet unsure as to how long his latest spell of rehabilitation will be.
However, looking back on a 79-Test career Flintoff insisted he failed to reach the top ranks. “I have never achieved greatness and I don’t profess to,” he said. “That’s the Bothams, the Sobers, the Imran Khans, the Tendulkars, the Pontings, who achieved greatness over a long period of time, playing Test after Test after Test.
–Agencies