In the presence of Freddie
The Observer 's Adrian Deevoy takes his friend along for an interview with Andrew Flintoff and despite having seen him on innumerable cricket pitches across the years his friend is shocked into silence by Flintoff's sheer physical presence.
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For the occasion, Will has devised a series of Mastermind-like questions for the Lancashire lad (specialist subject: the life and times of A Flintoff 1977-2008) in order to ascertain how much Freddie knows about himself. Later, Flintoff will rattle through these at a familiarly impressive rate. Without affectation, Flintoff treats Will as an old friend, indulging his Wisden-weary queries and laughing throatily at his useless jokes. Will marvels at his generosity of spirit for weeks to come.
The lbw appeals rain in from all parts of the pitch: square leg, gully, long on. Karim Khan, jabberer-in-chief, comes out from behind the wicket to bowl a few. 'Well done, well done, the average is now six,' shouts one fielder. 'You don't have a fever, come on,' shouts another. A catch is skied to long on and dropped. The fielders are changed. Next ball another catch goes up to long on and is taken.
Nishi Narayanan is a staff writer at ESPNcricinfo