Andrew Flintoff Recalls Hilarious Sledging Episode With Shoaib Akhtar

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was regarded as an aggressive player on the field. He was famous for his verbal exchanges with many players and Flintoff never held back. In a recent disclosure, Andrew Flintoff has shed light on another verbal exchange that he had with former Pakistan speedster, Shoaib Akhtar.

Speaking to Talk Sport, Flintoff recalled the hilarious sledging episode with Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar from a 2005 Test match between England and Pakistan. Flintoff said that Akhtar kept calling him ‘fat’ which led to his response.

Andrew Flintoff Recalls Sledging Incident With Shoaib Akhtar

“Listen to this, I got feelings. He (Shoaib) kept having a go at me. He kept calling me ‘fat’. Fat this, fat that. I am not having this, I am thinking I am going to nip this in the b***. So, as I walked in, I said, Shoaib, it’s all right, you look like Tarzan, but you bowl like Jane,” Flintoff said.

“It haunted me straight away. I walked out to bat, I think 1st or 2nd ball, my off-stump was cart-wheeling back as he knocked it over. Then, as I walked off, he gave me a big ‘OOOHHHH’,” he said.

? “Akhtar kept calling me fat!”

? “As I walked out I said ‘Shoaib, you look like Tarzan but bowl like Jane’”

? “1st or 2nd ball my off stump was cartwheeling backwards & as I walked off he went ‘OOHHH!’”

Brilliant story from @Flintoff11 about facing @Shoaib100mph in 2005 ? pic.twitter.com/6gXVyj2Xfa

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 8, 2020

Both Flintoff And Akhtar Emerged As Legendary Cricketers

In his career, the 42-year-old Flintoff went on to play 79 Tests in which he scored 3,845 runs and picked 226 wickets. He also played 141 ODIs, in which he scored 3,394 runs and picked 169 wickets. He last played for England was in August 2009 in a Test match against Australia at The Oval.

Shoaib Akhtar, on the other hand, was a monster with the ball. The Rawalpindi Express played 46 Test matches for Pakistan wherein he picked 178 wickets at an average of 25.70. He also represented Pakistan in 163 ODI matches, claiming 247 wickets with an economy of under 5 runs per over. Akhtar played a total of 15 T20Is for Pakistan clinching 19 wickets in the process. He was one of the most fearsome fast bowlers of his era.

Also Read: Watch: Ricky Ponting Face Andrew Flintoff’s Fiery Bowling In 2005 Ashes Test