The return of Fred
ESPNcricinfo writers nominate the Biggest Surprise in English cricket in 2014
ESPNcricinfo staff
30-Dec-2014
Andrew Flintoff's comeback was one of the surprises of 2014 • Getty Images
1. The return of Fred
Andrew Flintoff 's comeback five years after retirement in the NatWest T20 Blast. Not just that he got himself in good enough shape to deserve selection, or that his body stood up to the strain but, blow me, he came within a couple of hits of winning the tournament on Finals Day at Edgbaston, and even won a contract in the Big Bash - David Hopps
2. Cook's barren year
The collapse in Alastair Cook 's form. It wasn't just that he scored so
few runs; it was that he looked awful. For a man with such a
distinguished record, it was a dramatic decline - George Dobell
England taking the 11th hour decision to sack Alastair Cook. The right decision, but the moment appeared to have passed. Harsh on Cook who has been lumped with the fall-out of a dreadful year, but the moves gives England their best balanced World Cup squad and may just save Cook's Test career. Time will tell - Andrew McGlashan
3. Ishant's terror spell
It wasn't that England were bounced out, or that they were undone on a tailor-made Lord's track or even that it was an overseas bowler getting the better of them in home conditions - it was that it was Ishant Sharma. For a man who at times seems to have more Adam's apple than nous, it was an entertaining spell of bowling that he won't forget in a hurry - Vithushan Ehantharajah
4. England's Indian transformation
The turnaround against India - having lost at Lord's and sunk to a new low, the way England turned things around to romp through the next three Tests was a most-welcome surprise - Alex Winter
5. Money isn't everything after all
Ten years on from the selling of all live cricket to Sky - a decision justified in strikingly similar financial terms to the Big Three's machinations within the ICC this year - the first-class counties belatedly made noises about returning some cricket to free-to-air. It was recognition of an unpalatable truth: for many without access to Sky, cricket has ceased to be relevant - Tim Wigmore
6. Alex Hales' T20 show-stopper
England losing to Netherlands at the World T20 went straight on to a lengthy bloopers reel but their win over Sri Lanka was as thrilling as it was unexpected. They were 0 for 2 after the first over of the chase before Alex Hales' show-stopping display - Alan Gardner