Lancashire: Andy shows his promise (24 July 1997)

24 July 1997

Andy shows his promise

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

ANDY FLINTOFF is ready to step out of the shadows of Ben Hollioake as another shooting star of English cricket.

The pair have known each other since they were team mates for England Under 13s but Hollioake has grabbed all the headlines this season with his stunning performances at Lord's for England and Surrey.

But Flintoff is starting to show why England coach David Lloyd rates him just as highly, first with a match-winning innings at Worcester and yesterday with a magnificent maiden century against Hampshire at Southampton.

He smashed 117 from 159 balls with 22 fours and a huge six over mid-wicket, his first boundary.

The pitch was good and the Hampshire attack tame, but Lancashire were in danger of squandering their chance when Mike Watkinson joined Flintoff with the score 194-4 after Nathan Wood and Graham Lloyd had each missed out on a century.

They responded with a hard-hitting stand of 214 in 43 overs until Flintoff was caught and bowled by John Stephenson, with Watkinson going on to his first century for two years from 124 balls with four sixes off Shaun Udal, and resuming today on 102.

The skipper and Darren Shadford took the score on to 458 without further loss today, Watkinson on 130 and his partner on 12. "We needed Freddie (Flintoff) and Winker to knuckle down for a good stand and they did that superbly," said coach Dav Whatmore.

"I was very happy for Fred and very proud of him. It was a disciplined knock because he had to work hard early. He is capable of hitting many more centuries."

But Flintoff leaves to captain Hollioake in the England Under 19 team against Zimbabwe next week. Unlike Surrey, who insist that Hollioake would be better off staying with them, Lancashire are happy for Flintoff to go.

"Representing your country is the highest honour you can get at any level and to captain them as well is another feather in his cap," added Whatmore.

"We wish him all the best, and we eagerly await his return." A delighted Flintoff said: "I am caught between the devil and the deep blue sea because while playing for the under 19s is an honour, I also want to play first class cricket. But I am looking forward to the under 19s, I enjoyed playing for them and I feel in good nick."

Earlier Wood and Lloyd had brought back memories of the 1970s, when their fathers shared so many opening stands for Lancashire.

They came together for the first time in competitive cricket and put on 158 for the third wicket.

But both were out in the space of five overs, Lloyd 10 runs short of his sixth century of the season and Wood for a career-best 82.