Flintoff should be 'cleared of blame for drink-related incidents and groomed as the next England captain' - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Flintoff should be 'cleared of blame for drink-related incidents and groomed as the next England captain'

Andrew Flintoff should be cleared of blame for the drink-related incidents that have blighted his career and groomed as the next England captain, according to his Lancashire chairman, Jack Simmons.

Flintoff is back home after rehab in Florida on his injured ankle and aims to play again in April.

Now, with Michael Vaughan's position under fresh scrutiny after a second successive series defeat was confirmed yesterday when the third Test in Sri Lanka was abandoned because of rain, Simmons is pressing for Flintoff to be England's next captain.

Flintoff, captain on the disastrous Ashes tour in Vaughan's injury absence, was axed as World Cup vice-captain after the infamous 'pedalo' incident.

But Simmons, bidding to become chairman of the ECB's powerful cricket committee, said: 'Freddie was unfairly penalised for the pedalo incident when others were involved, two of them coaches. When Vaughan finishes, he will be the obvious choice to take over.'

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