Freddie’s A Real Handful For Windies
Freddie Flintoff promised England’s jubilant fans that his first five-wicket haul in a Test match would not be his last. Flintoff’s five for 58 in Barbados helped England restrict the hapless West Indies to 224 all out and raise hopes of a first series win in the Caribbean for 36 years. “Hopefully I will be able to kick on from here and enjoy more days like this,” said Flintoff, who has never previously enjoyed the rewards his bowling deserved.

“To get five wickets in a Test is good, but in Barbados with all the England supporters there made it a great feeling,” added the Lancashire all-rounder.
“I try hard when I bowl, but at times don’t get the wickets, but today it all came good.  I have been told several times that it’s taken me 32 Tests to do it, but it’s not through a lack of trying or practice”.
Flintoff also heaped praise on his fellow quicks, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard.   “It’s fantastic to bowl behind these guys,” he said.
“They have all bowled fantastically well, but |I don’t look at it as being in their shadows.  I am just enjoying the way they are bowling because you have to enjoy the winning moments when you are on tour.
“I think any bowler would enjoy bowling with Steve Harmison at the moment.   He’s making bowling look very easy the way he’s coming through the crease and the pace he gets it down at.   With someone like myself there’s a lot of huffing and puffing, but Steve’s so smooth”.
England, needing only a draw to clinch the series, had to battle through a tense late session, but lost Marcus Trescothick in reaching 20 for one at the close.

Written by Martin Hardy on behlf of ISM Ltd