Lancashire bowler fit for life beyond Freddie (From Lancaster And Morecambe Citizen)

Lancashire bowler fit for life beyond Freddie

11:06am Wednesday 16th December 2009

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JAMES Anderson is all set to start today’s first Test with South Africa as England take the first step on the road to life without Andrew Flintoff.

The Burnley pace ace is fit despite his mystery knee injury and reporting off-spinner and is set to start at Centurion as skipper Andrew Strauss warned South Africa they are in for a shock if they think England cannot ‘intimidate’ them without Andrew Flintoff.

Makhaya Ntini suggested that, with Flintoff’s post-Ashes retirement, England have lost the one player who can intimidate world-class opponents.

Strauss takes a different view.

“We’ve had to deal with him not being around quite a lot in the last few years,” the England captain said, of the lynchpin all-rounder who was regularly forced out by injury towards the end of his Test career.

“It’s nothing new although this time it’s permanent.

“But maybe that’s a good thing, because we aren’t sidetracked over whether he will come back.”

“But as for him being the only player who can intimidate South Africa, if they feel that, then I think that’s a good thing for us – because we have some very good cricketers who can surprise them over the coming weeks.”

Among them will be Oval man of the match Stuart Broad, pace spearhead James Anderson, new batting find Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen.

South Africa, meanwhile, have their own champion player still recovering from injury and unable to fire on all cylinders.

Although Jacques Kallis will be able to play just as a batsman, having missed the recent one-day international series completely because of a broken rib, Strauss discounts the notion that the all-time great all-rounder may have difficulty adapting to one role only.

“I don’t think Jacques Kallis and ‘mentally vulnerable’ go together that well,” smiled Strauss.

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