Lancashire on Tour

Since Lancashire's season finished last year, four of the squad will have visited 5 different countries between them (not including England) over the winter months in aid of international cricket.

Andrew Flintoff would have better advised purchasing a round the world ticket, as he has called at Australia, Pakistan and has now arrived in India, returning home after each tour.

Brad Hodge flew home and joyously made his international debut for Australia and will imminently be flying with members of the Test squad to contest a series in South Africa.

Jimmy Anderson also joined Flintoff in Pakistan, for the one-day series and is currently with Sajid Mahmood in the West Indies for the England A Squad tour.

'Freddie' appeared in England's disappointing tour of Pakistan where they lost the Test series 2-0 and the one-day series 3-2. Flintoff himself never really recaptured his Ashes form, such is the exceptional level he has set for himself. Given the pitches offered England's seamers very little in terms of pace, bounce and movement, Flintoff did well in capturing 13 wickets in the 3 Tests (8 coming in the first test), averaging 31.46. He never really got going with the bat, passing fifty on only the one occasion in 6 attempts.

In the ODI's he averaged an improved 46.75 with the bat, and with the ball he was generally accurate, especially when asked to bowl at the death.

The England squad, who are preparing for the First Test against India in Nagpur on March 1, will be missing the inspirational all-rounder for the third and final Test, if, as expected, he returns home to be with his wife Rachel for the birth of their second child.

Flintoff also flew to Australia in October to appear in the inaugural (or farcical) World Series where he represented a strong looking World XI against Australia. The World XI being soundly beaten in both forms of the game.

The big man has been collecting awards like he has air miles. He became the first cricketer since England Legend Ian Botham to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was awarded Natwest PFA Player of the Year, for the second year running, voted for by the players, and he collected (along with Jacques Kallis) the ICC World Player of the Year. Finally, he was given an MBE along with the other England Ashes heroes on December 31. Busy or what ?

Lancashire's overseas player Brad Hodge made his first class debut for Victoria in October 1993, and after 12 years of consistently scoring big runs he finally broke through into the Australian side this winter. It came in November against West Indies where he made a solid 60 in his first knock.

Hodge, 31, would surely have made his international bow years earlier, had the Aussies not been so dominant in the last decade.

He went some way to cementing his Test place when he produced a quite brilliant 203 not out in only his third Test, this time against South Africa. In the process becoming only the 5th Australian to go on and pass 200 in the innings he made his maiden Test century.

His one-day international career has also got underway, but he has not yet been as successful in the 50-over game.

He will certainly be looking to build on his ever growing reputation in the Test series in South Africa starting on March 16.

Fast bowler Jimmy Anderson has represented England only in the shortened version of the game, so far this winter. He has yet to regain the England form that catapulted him into the public eye, but showed signs in Pakistan.He captured 7 wickets at the cost of 25.57 apiece. His best figures coming in the final game where he took 4-48 in Rawalpindi.

He has not played a Test match since January 2005 and is currently on standby in the Caribbean with England 'A', hoping to get noticed with the type of performances we all know he is capable of. He will of course be joining England in India when the one-day series gets underway.

Another player aiming to get some recognition from the England management while in the Caribbean is another Lancashire quick, Sajid Mahmood.

His willingness to continue learning and improving saw him travel to Dennis Lillee's Fast Bowling Academy in Chennai (Madras). He made the trip along with Simon Jones, Notts Mark Footit, coaching guru Troy Cooley and his impending replacement Kevin Shine.

A mention should also go to Tom Smith, who signed professionally with Lancashire for the forthcoming season, as he was named a part-time student at the ECB National Academy for winter 2005/06.

Let us hope when the domestic season arrives upon us, that all these players return fully fit and better players for their winter experiences.

(BBC Lancashire, 24/02/06)