Atherton: England Should Not Grieve Over Andrew “Second Hand Car” Flintoff

If there is one person who is not unduly perturbed by Andrew Flintoff’s injury, it is the former England captain, Michael Atherton, who has described Flintoff as a “second hand car”.
Atherton insists that England need not feel dismayed should Flintoff turn up unfit for the second Test of the Ashes 2009 at Lord’s. Flintoff picked up a right knee injury in the course of the first Test of the Ashes at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff and is now in serious doubt of making it to the second Test line up, with Steve Harmison widely tipped to take his place.
Atherton stated that though a fit Flintoff was an asset, his absence would not signal a bad omen because in his words, Flintoff is no longer the talisman he was four years ago.
Referring to him as a second hand car, Atherton stated that too many miles had been run and Flintoff’s body was now a major question mark. With injuries afflicting him, Atherton was concerned that England should not pick Flintoff on a crutch.