Andrew Flintoff can turn into a "shock" bowler than a "stock"
bowler by a cautious streamlining of his action to reduce injuries, says former
Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming.
"You tend to lose a lot of potency when you're injured and that's been the
test for 'Freddie' over the last 12 to 18 months," Fleming said.
"However, he could turn into a 'shock' bowler rather than the stock bowler
he has been for the past few years," he added.
Flintoff recently resumed playing after a third operation on
his left ankle and has since been named in England's one-day and ICC World Twenty20
squads.
Fleming, who retired from cricket in 2003 to concentrate on
coaching, said Flintoff's front foot was pointing towards fine leg rather than
at the batsmen, the knee twists as the top half of the body rotates and hips
and shoulders need to be straighter towards the batsman.
"He needs to get his hips and knee straighter to the target, but it will
be tough at 29.
"Fast bowlers have a higher injury rate compared to other
sports. I found when I was coaching (at Australia's centre of excellence in
Adelaide) bowlers seem to be able to change their top half of their action easier
than their bottom half," he was quoted as saying by the 'BBC Sport'.
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