Twenty20 absentees could prove crucial for England

The ICC world Twenty20 cup begins at Lord’s on the 6th June when England take on the Netherlands. The finest limited overs cricketers from all around the world are gathered for a month long slog fest, to decide the champions of this, the infant form of the game. Sadly missing from the galaxy of stars on display will be one man. And not just any man either. Andrew Flintoff, the most expensive player on show during the recent IPL, arguably the best and possibly the most recognisable cricketer in the world.


Doubtlessly Flintoff will be sorely missed. What event wouldn’t be poorer without such a fiery competitor? His batting can be explosive while the effort he puts into every delivery bowled can be seen written on his face. The coaches report that he should be running by next week and so it is conceivable that England could have used him in the latter stages of the tournament. However, it is the correct decision for him to be absent with the Ashes series starting on July 8th. Flintoff and the England management both know that summer 2009 will not be remembered for the Twenty20 cricket but for the battle to come with our antipodean cousin’s.


The Australian trio of Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson and Ricky Ponting all opted out of the IPL to concentrate on the Ashes and are now fit and fresh for the challenges to come. Freddie has five weeks to get himself into peak condition before the first test in Cardiff so lets keep our fingers crossed that there are no more setbacks. Andrew Strauss’s team were excellent in vanquishing the West Indies but the Aussies fear Flintoff and England are certainly stronger with him in the side.


So let us sit back and enjoy some good fun cricket over the next month. It will be interesting to see if England can sustain the momentum gained in winning the one day games against The Windies. Paul Collingwood will be in charge of England for the tournament and this could turn out to be an unwitting masterstroke. Strauss is absent because of his unsuitability to the 20 over game, but this could work in the English causes favour. Like Flintoff, the skipper now has over a month to prepare for Ponting’s tourists, let’s hope he spends it wisely and England will be ready. After all, the T20 may provide thrills and excitement for the cricketing public but it is merely an appetiser for the main course that is the Ashes.