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Second Innings: My Sporting Life
Fast bowler, six-hitter, popular hero, one of the lads, King of the Jungle - Andrew Flintoff is all of those things, and a whole lot more.
Who can forget the hero of England's 2005 Ashes-winning team; the captain who endured humiliating defeat in Australia in 2006-07; the maverick whose encounter with a pedalo in the 2007 World Cup brought all the wrong headlines; the competitor who fought off injury to help regain the Ashes in 2009; the TV performer always looking for a new challenge?
But through all his highs and lows, triumphs and reversals, there has been a central tension in his life. There is 'Fred' - entertainer, extrovert, centre of attention. Then there is 'Andrew' - reflective, withdrawn and uncertain. Two people contained in one extraordinary life. And sometimes, inevitably, keeping the two in balance proves impossible.
Now, in Second Innings , he reveals the unseen sides of his career and the complex and troubled relationship with discipline, excess and authority; the search for an authentic voice as a player, free from the blandness and conformity of modern professionalism; the restless need to push himself that led him to take up professional boxing and, in an even more unexpected twist, to return to the cricket field.
At ease with his faults as well as his gifts, Andrew Flintoff displays characteristic humour and often startling honesty as he takes the reader backstage to witness the mischief and adventure that have defined his story, and, above all, to experience the enduring power of fun, friendship and loyalty - the pillars of his remarkable career.
Who can forget the hero of England's 2005 Ashes-winning team; the captain who endured humiliating defeat in Australia in 2006-07; the maverick whose encounter with a pedalo in the 2007 World Cup brought all the wrong headlines; the competitor who fought off injury to help regain the Ashes in 2009; the TV performer always looking for a new challenge?
But through all his highs and lows, triumphs and reversals, there has been a central tension in his life. There is 'Fred' - entertainer, extrovert, centre of attention. Then there is 'Andrew' - reflective, withdrawn and uncertain. Two people contained in one extraordinary life. And sometimes, inevitably, keeping the two in balance proves impossible.
Now, in Second Innings , he reveals the unseen sides of his career and the complex and troubled relationship with discipline, excess and authority; the search for an authentic voice as a player, free from the blandness and conformity of modern professionalism; the restless need to push himself that led him to take up professional boxing and, in an even more unexpected twist, to return to the cricket field.
At ease with his faults as well as his gifts, Andrew Flintoff displays characteristic humour and often startling honesty as he takes the reader backstage to witness the mischief and adventure that have defined his story, and, above all, to experience the enduring power of fun, friendship and loyalty - the pillars of his remarkable career.
277 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2015
30 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 13, 2022
I didn't really know Fred/Andrew until I started watching League of their own.
Then my other half would tell me a few things occasionally if it was relevant obviously because he is a cricket fan.
Neither of us fully knew him at all after I read this book I really felt like I knew him. I loved reading about his journey; physically and mentally. A very open and honest book. I got lost in some of the people he was talking about and the game information and chat got a bit confusing for me but I will be reading another book of his which isn't based on just cricket. 😁
Then my other half would tell me a few things occasionally if it was relevant obviously because he is a cricket fan.
Neither of us fully knew him at all after I read this book I really felt like I knew him. I loved reading about his journey; physically and mentally. A very open and honest book. I got lost in some of the people he was talking about and the game information and chat got a bit confusing for me but I will be reading another book of his which isn't based on just cricket. 😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2019
Hero or legend, just the bloke from Preston
He wants to be the bloke down the road, but becomes something else in his life. Realisation took time that you cannot be brilliant at sport without having the drudgery of fame to accompany it.
Well written account of a single minded mission in a sport that produces single minded self centred legends.
He wants to be the bloke down the road, but becomes something else in his life. Realisation took time that you cannot be brilliant at sport without having the drudgery of fame to accompany it.
Well written account of a single minded mission in a sport that produces single minded self centred legends.
February 13, 2022
Flintoff is never one to say no to something. After retiring from professional cricket he has not decided to take a break. This book is a great example of how you should push yourself and try something new - you never know whether you may enjoy it in the end.
July 4, 2017
Top man freddie
Interesting insight into the person behind the actual persona. It's good to see flaws in your heroes makes them seem normal
Interesting insight into the person behind the actual persona. It's good to see flaws in your heroes makes them seem normal
May 31, 2019
Honest
I like Freddie even more now having read this book. A very insightful and honest account of his life and thoughts.
I like Freddie even more now having read this book. A very insightful and honest account of his life and thoughts.
April 30, 2020
Honest and interesting look into Freddy. A typical larger than life cricket personality - talks about his issues with drink, weight, media work and state of cricket at moment.
October 9, 2020
Interesting enough. He could have named a few more names of the ex England players he was criticizing though.
October 18, 2022
An insight into the mind of Andrew and Freddie. Very honest. Probably shies away from his more controversial episodes. And a bit of nostalgia from the best Ashes ever in 2005
December 16, 2015
If you’re a cricket fanatic or not, I don’t really feel this book is revelatory or there will be anything massively new that hasn’t been said in Flintoff’s interviews before. I wouldn’t pay to buy the book but having loaned it, it’s an easy read and I was able to finish it quickly. That being said, some of Flintoff’s anecdotes are told in his, inimitable style with humour playing a big role especially his meetings with Dennis Rodman, his spell in the Australian version of I’m a Celebrity most enjoyable. I’d always been critical of Flintoff’s foray into boxing, feeling it undermined the sport but even Freddie wasn’t too sure about it! It highlights how ludicrous the decision was by the British Boxing Board of Control to give him a licence in the first place. Book shows how he was persistent in having a more calmer conclusion to his sporting life. Tougher issues are discussed such as his battle with drink and with depression. It’s a book to read if you have nothing much to read but if you’re a cricket fan, you won’t miss much either that you haven’t already heard Flintoff discuss in interviews.
October 9, 2016
I thought, the book was very informative, and taught me a lot about both filntoff the cricketer and filntoff the man, over all i was very impressed with the book, and the look back at both the ashes series, one from from 2005 that no cricket fan will forget, and the one from 2009 which is also very memorable all in this book deserves high praise and certain i will do in giving it a 5 star rating..
October 16, 2016
I bought it mainly because of his post cricket programmes and appearances. This book very much seemed to focus on the world of cricket (obviously) but some technical text was beyond my knowledge. If you don't know all the people mentioned and have a good knowledge of cricket I would suggest steering clear of this book. If you want to know the celebrity side of Andrew, again this is not the book for you.
January 30, 2016
Very easy to read and interesting. A good example of how excess of drink is waste. He shows why he decides to give up alcohol.
March 27, 2016
Interesting character another reading challenge book done and dusted!
July 3, 2017
amazing xx
love the guy soo much and has such an inspiring story
love the guy soo much and has such an inspiring story
November 17, 2017
I love Fred. I thought this would have been more about his life after cricket. still interesting
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews