Flintoff Given The Poisoned Chalice Of Captaincy

Flintoff has been awarded the captaincy following the absence of both Vaughan and Trescothick and he faces a real baptism of fire. Very few bowlers have made successful captains, as they find it impossible to decide when to bowl themselves.

For once England fans will be hoping that Flintoff fails to emulate Botham, who skippered England 12 times without ever leading them to victory. Botham faced back-to-back tests against the West Indies, whilst Flintoff faces a talented Indian team, in India, with an untested spin attack, a batting line-up missing its two most experienced players and to top it all his wife is about to give birth to their second child.

To make Flintoff captain was a mistake. A player's form inevitably declines when given the poisoned chalice of captaincy and the selectors should have realised that England are too reliant on Flintoff the player. They should never have contemplated Flintoff the captain.