England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff rocks onto the back foot and hits through the offside on the way to scoring a career-best 167 against the West Indies in the second Test of the npower series at Edgbaston, Birmingham, yesterday.
-Dellmar photoLONDON (Reuters):
ENGLAND ALL-ROUNDER Andrew Flintoff admitted yesterday that it had been a battle to keep focused and not go for more big shots in his career best 167 in the second Test against West Indies at Edgbaston.
His innings helped England to 566 for nine declared yesterday and into a healthy position on the second day.
CONTROLLED SHOT PLAY
His first 50 runs were characterised by controlled shot play, a skill the 26-year-old has learnt in the past year. "I enjoyed it but when they first bowled wide... I was fighting myself to keep tight and keep at the crease," Flintoff told Channel Four Television. "I was trying to play straight and trying to rely on technique rather than power."
As he reached his fourth Test hundred, Flintoff broke free from his self-imposed shackles, smacking seven sixes in all, including three in one Omari Banks over to bring up his 150.
Unbeaten half-centuries from Brian Lara and Ramnaresh Sarwan helped West Indies recover from a poor start to reach 184 for two in reply at the close and Flintoff believes England need to bowl better to the pair today.
"They have taken it to us and we need to bowl with more discipline tomorrow than we have today," he said.
