Flintoff- I suffered depression and alcoholism

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/01/andrew-flintoff-depression-england-cricket

Crikey, we could almost start a 'Depressed XI'.

It's a tough gig when things aren't going well, particularly away from home. I remember feeling very sorry for him from Adelaide on.

There is some TV show on SBS tonight I noticed about Freddie tackling extreme sports in Mehico.

Henry wrote:http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/jan/01/andrew-flintoff-depression-england-cricket

Crikey, we could almost start a 'Depressed XI'.

Make a start with Arthur Shrewsbury, on to Andy Stoddart and Albert Trott with the ironically-nicknamed "Blue" Bairstow keeping wicket. You could probably make two or three sides from talented cricketers who, for one reason or another, have chosen to 'walk' before the ethereal umpire has lifted his finger.

There is a book dedicated to cricketers who committed suicide.

There are at least 2. This one, written 20 years ago, by David Frith which someone is attempting to sell on Amazon at a suicidal price:

By His Own Hand: Cricket's Suicides

and this one, priced more reasonably, which came out last August:

Cricketers Who Committed Suicide

Graeme Wood and Rick Darling had a suicide pact going for a while.

I have one called 'Silence of the Heart' which chronicles first class cricketers who have died by their own hand. Of course the Roebuck chapter will now be added and Paul Hibbert also took his own life a few years back. Andre Nel reportedly made an attempt on his.

Didn't Roebuck ironically write the foreword for one of those books?

He wrote the foreword to the Frith book as here:



A case of tempting Providence, perhaps.

Would be interesting to read it now...

I guess the demands of modern professional sports can be too much: Long, frequent and arduous tours must be hard on one's personal and family life, as must be having a job where your every c*ck-up is public and disected by millions.

mynah wrote:Would be interesting to read it now...

He actually wrote "some people have predicted a gloomy end for this writer...it will not be so".

Spooky.

Paul Keating wrote:There is some TV show on SBS tonight I noticed about Freddie tackling extreme sports in Mehico.

Nice one Ponts. Now I am depressed after watching that

The next Jesus- Still tormenting Aussies on prime time TV here in Australia. Good times.

Still not convinced the Roebuck thing was suicide so I'd be hesitant to add him to a "Suicide XI". The whole concept of a "Suicide XI" is pretty grim actually...

"Andre Nel reportedly made an attempt on his (life)."

Tabasco? Hollandaise? Worcestershire? Black Bean?

vilkrang wrote:Still not convinced the Roebuck thing was suicide so I'd be hesitant to add him to a "Suicide XI". The whole concept of a "Suicide XI" is pretty grim actually...

Wouldn't be much of a game. They'd all give themselves out.

I think Freddie is more respected here than in Pomgolia...Most of us admired his gallant efforts in the whitewash - despite the wrecked ankles and a spineless team

he should emigrate

Well he is living in Dubai these days. Neighbours with Beefy. Income tax is high in the UK if you earn more than 100k a year.....

he would be welcomed in Oz...certain someone would offer him a 'silent partnership' in a pedalo business

Someone by the name of Jack Daniels?

Henry wrote:Well he is living in Dubai these days. Neighbours with Beefy. Income tax is high in the UK if you earn more than 100k a year.....

It's high if you earn £40k or more. Freddie flies in to appear on stupid quiz shows such as this one which was on Sky 1 last night:

A League of Their Own

At least Beefy recovered his reputation, and secured a knighthood to boot, with his charity work. If Flintoff had anything about him he would be asking the ECB to let him coach the U19s for nowt so he could give something back to the game that has given him so much, pressure or no pressure. Gooch has set the perfect example, both regarding his county and his country, and would be my nominee for the next cricketing knight. "Arise, Sir Freddie", appears a long way off, however.

So it was Freddie Brownedoff by the end of 2006.

I think we all knew this.