View Full Version : Ponting : we will target Flintoff
It seems Australia is now going down the road of the West Indians circa 1980's when they used to target the captain and hope his demise might see the rest of the team collapse along with him.
Ponting : we will target Flintoff
Sydney - Australian captain Ricky Ponting admitted on Thursday his England counterpart Andrew Flintoff would be the host nation's main target when the campaign to regain the Ashes begins this month.
Ponting said Australia believed containing the talismanic Englishman could spark a collapse among other players in the touring side that would help bring the Ashes back down under, after last year's shock loss to their old rival.
"He's such a vital part of their side, if you happen to keep him down for a few Test matches in a row or a few performances here and there, it might drag a couple of their other players down with him," Ponting said.
Flintoff was England's leading wicket-taker and third-highest run-scorer in last year's Ashes campaign, earning plaudits as the best cricketer in the world as he inspired his side to its first series win in 18 years.
This time around, he has the added burden of the captaincy and is recovering from ankle surgery, giving Ponting hope he can be restricted.
"It is important that we do that with him, more so for his playing abilities than his leadership," he said. "We all saw last time around that he can be dynamic with the bat and the ball.
"I think their team really do run off him a little bit. If we can restrict him and put him under pressure right through the series, then hopefully a few of their other players might start feeling the pressure as well.
"If we can start taking more than one player down, it gives us a great chance of winning."
England's touring party has its first match since arriving in Australia against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra Friday.
It is expected to provide a hit-out for several players short of match fitness, including spinners Ashley Giles and Monty Panesar, and batsmen Marcus Trescothick and Alastair Cook. The first of five Ashes Tests begins in Brisbane on November 23.
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RoosterLad
9 Nov 2006, 18:42
It's not like it is a recent thing. Australia has long been a graveyard for touring captains and I'm sure the Aussies target them. A shaky captain usually means a shaky team. It will be interesting to see how Freddie handles this, a lot of pressure on him and he's coming back from injury. He will need to prove his awesome last Ashes was no fluke and not just a one off event.
Not exactly breaking new ground here.
Do the names Nasser Hussain or Jimmy Adams ring any bells?:p
Ricketts
9 Nov 2006, 18:49
He will crumble. Big time.
Ahhh...they are going to try their best to get an opposition player out or hit runs off him.
What a brilliant plan.
Cooldude
9 Nov 2006, 19:01
Targeting a team's best player, wow, we could've never think of that or see that one coming
It doesnt matter anymore the psycological barrier that Aus held over England was beaten down last time when England realised they could compete and beat Aus. All these Aus players yapping away about what they are going to do has no effect any morethey may beat England but it wont be because they did a lot of talking it will be because they played better .
Also have you noticed all the mouth is coming from the Aus camp surprising that .An English person makes a comment and he is an arrogant so and so ,funny that
It doesnt matter anymore the psycological barrier that Aus held over England was beaten down last time when England realised they could compete and beat Aus. All these Aus players yapping away about what they are going to do has no effect any morethey may beat England but it wont be because they did a lot of talking it will be because they played better .
Also have you noticed all the mouth is coming from the Aus camp surprising that .An English person makes a comment and he is an arrogant so and so ,funny that
Ricky Ponting is a pom?
Ricky Ponting is a pom?
Great news does this mean he can play for us .Mind you not as Captain England may lose then ;)
King Elvis
9 Nov 2006, 21:09
It doesnt matter anymore the psycological barrier that Aus held over England was beaten down last time when England realised they could compete and beat Aus. All these Aus players yapping away about what they are going to do has no effect any morethey may beat England but it wont be because they did a lot of talking it will be because they played better .
Also have you noticed all the mouth is coming from the Aus camp surprising that .An English person makes a comment and he is an arrogant so and so ,funny that
Winning one series by the barest of margins in what, 17 years, and you've broken the mental stranglehold we held over you?
I hope your team believes that too, it'll make it even funnier when we smash them again.
And it'll be even funnier again if Flintoff joins Hussein & Atherton & Smith & Adams and all of the other tough talking Captains who've come down here and been destroyed.
Winning one series by the barest of margins in what, 17 years, and you've broken the mental stranglehold we held over you?
I hope your team believes that too, it'll make it even funnier when we smash them again.
And it'll be even funnier again if Flintoff joins Hussein & Atherton & Smith & Adams and all of the other tough talking Captains who've come down here and been destroyed.
You answered your own question .They didnt win for all that time therefore the mental stranglehold and every time they lose the stroger the barrier .They win the barrier is no longer there .
Slightest margin you say maybe in the result but not the actual play which England dominated .Warne was the only reason it was close last time .
Has I have said elsewhere if Aus win this time it wont be because they mouth off or have a psycological edge it will be because they play better
Flintoff tough talking I think you must be getting your players mixed up just substitute him for any Aus player doing all the talking
Browney2006
9 Nov 2006, 21:22
Winning one series by the barest of margins in what, 17 years, and you've broken the mental stranglehold we held over you?
I hope your team believes that too, it'll make it even funnier when we smash them again.
And it'll be even funnier again if Flintoff joins Hussein & Atherton & Smith & Adams and all of the other tough talking Captains who've come down here and been destroyed.
Since when has Flintoff since hes been down here run his mouth and talked tough?
GoSydneySwans
9 Nov 2006, 21:35
Great news does this mean he can play for us .Mind you not as Captain England may lose then ;)
Since when have England been picking English players? He'd have a better chance if he were a South African IMO. ;)
King Elvis
9 Nov 2006, 21:40
Since when has Flintoff since hes been down here run his mouth and talked tough?
He hasn't yet, and hopefully he doesn't, but regardless, I'd like us to preserve our history of ruining opposition Captains.
Linda - I don't think one series can wipe out almost two decades of complete and utter dominance. Obviously it'll help a lot, but if things don't go Englands way early, it could be a factor.
You dominated, but you only just beat us, so you can't have dominated. And yea, we were only in the series because of Warne - you only won it because of Flintoff. Stupid comment.
He hasn't yet, and hopefully he doesn't, but regardless, I'd like us to preserve our history of ruining opposition Captains.
Linda - I don't think one series can wipe out almost two decades of complete and utter dominance. Obviously it'll help a lot, but if things don't go Englands way early, it could be a factor.
You dominated, but you only just beat us, so you can't have dominated. And yea, we were only in the series because of Warne - you only won it because of Flintoff. Stupid comment.
I do think you are wrong about the mental thing but it is your opinion .
Did you not think that Trescothick Strauss Pietrsen played a big part by scoring more runs than any Aus batsman .Did you not think that Jones played a big part by taking vital wickets .
Who else apart form Warne lived up to their ability on the Aus side
King Elvis
9 Nov 2006, 21:50
I do think you are wrong about the mental thing but it is your opinion .
Did you not think that Trescothick Strauss Pietrsen played a big part by scoring more runs than any Aus batsman .Did you not think that Jones played a big part by taking vital wickets .
Who else apart form Warne lived up to their ability on the Aus side
Pretty much no one, and yet we still almost won the Series.
But the point is, you take the best performed player out of any side, and of course it's going to have a massive impact.
Browney2006
9 Nov 2006, 21:51
I do think you are wrong about the mental thing but it is your opinion .
Did you not think that Trescothick Strauss Pietrsen played a big part by scoring more runs than any Aus batsman .Did you not think that Jones played a big part by taking vital wickets .
Who else apart form Warne lived up to their ability on the Aus side
Brett Lee, proved to everyone how ******** he is.
Brett Lee, proved to everyone how ******** he is.
I have to admit I have never been a big fan of Lee but on the last tour I did come round to him and did think he was giving everything he had .On his day he can run through any team
Kim Chambers
9 Nov 2006, 22:38
I have to admit I have never been a big fan of Lee but on the last tour I did come round to him and did think he was giving everything he had .On his day he can run through any team
I luv you Lindy. :) :thumbsu:
I luv you Lindy. :) :thumbsu:
Good love is better than hate
Kim Chambers
9 Nov 2006, 22:56
Good love is better than hate
Yes well I can't fault you there.
Bombers_Forever
10 Nov 2006, 06:15
Targeting a team's best player, wow, we could've never think of that or see that one coming
Exactly. Although the plan that it means the rest will fall is not giving the other players much credit.
Partridge
10 Nov 2006, 07:22
Targeting a team's best player, wow, we could've never think of that or see that one coming
Exactly. I'm astonished. I thought they were going to bowl underarm to Flintoff with a tennis ball.
Journalists have to create headlines for themselves, thankfully the first test isn't too far away.