Friday 6th August, 2010 13

task for someone whose profile has been sustained by his deeds on the field. Yet it manages it. Things getting a bit quiet? A story appears revealing “Flintoff says the Australian team is not what it was”. No kidding, Fred. But the name was in lights once again, which is why we get sto- ries such as the latest PR puff. A The possible schedule for freelance Fred makes it sound like one great social whirl, doing the “sea- sons”, when the reality will be more gym work, more biking, more one-on-ones with the provi- so it is made clear that Flintoff drinks Red Bull. ‘Flintoff, it will be argued, Flintoff needs cricket more than cricket needs him now. But is that actual- ly true, either way,any more? He has always been aware of the value of publicity (think of those carefully staged photo-op celebrations during his wonder- ful bombardment at Lord’s last ‘news’ year) and savvy to the needs of those whose products he endors- es, indeed shameless at times in 4-August-2010: Had it been any a legendary drinker, a sponta- Flintoff ’s press agent. The all- interests of the team and nothing what really has been product other player than Andrew neously amusing raconteur. He rounder’s silence was deafening. revolves around any one player - placement: the carefully Flintoff, news of him not being had the lot. Maybe he was too busy working not even stands arranged caffeine drink always able to turn out for a county sec- ‘The announcement yester- on the knee. out from the rest these days. That to hand on the team balcony; the ond XI would not be regarded as day that he would miss the rest of ‘England - Twenty20 champi- team ethic is the biggest single bat held up by the blade when news. Indeed, as one scribe notes, this season because of a chronic ons and recent victors over both reason why they have made so acknowledging applause, the bet- it would not be in the news at all knee complaint was almost as South Africa and Australia in the much progress under Andy ter to see the stickers. However, because no-one else has such an inevitable as it was comically 50-over game - may suppose they Flower.’ anecdotal evidence seems to sug- Writing in the Daily effective PR machine in place. sad. The immediate reaction to it no longer need Flintoff and The point about England’s gest he has a significant and bur- That fact is rightly beginning among many people was proba- indeed are better off without unity under Flower and the geoning income that is contin- Mail, Nasser Hussain to annoy some, but there will also bly: “Heavens, is he still him. Any team could do with his unwanted impact Flintoff could gent on his reputation and profile agrees with the idea be some sympathy from anyone around?” one-day skills but it is difficult to have makes sense, but most as a person rather than as a who prefers to remember ‘Flintoff, our Freddie, is in see what precisely he could do to would agree that it is moot. At sportsman per se. that a Flintoff return Andrew Flintoff the cricketer. danger of becoming an irritat- improve on that. He would be, the age of 32, with a catalogue of ‘The emphasis is changing. would not work in the Just yesterday the Media Column ingly peripheral figure, hanging heaven forfend, an outsider in injuries behind him, nobody gen- He is not Fred the cricketer any was thinking wistfully of those around, determined to have a few that dressing room.’ uinely believes that Flintoff has more, he is Fred the personality. England dressing two spells he bowled in the third more pay days. At this rate, his Writing in the Daily Mail, a chance of returning to the He is earning millions through room, and says the Test against South Africa at legacy - so dramatically,valiantly Nasser Hussain agrees with the England side. Surely not even not playing cricket, the income Edgbaston in 2008, when Flintoff earned - will be diminished.’ idea that a Flintoff return would Flintoff himself. from which would be small beer allrounder needs to and Jacques Kallis treated the That is indeed the worry.But not work in the England dressing Yet his marketing team know by comparison. It would be hard move on - just as cricket world to the ultimate dis- more than that there is a concern room, and says the allrounder that for him to continue to pick to believe that he has exiled him- play of . that the time away from cricket, needs to move on - just as up lucrative contracts both with self in Dubai primarily for tax England have with- It is memories of those which equates to more time play- England have without him. overseas franchises and compa- reasons or warm weather rather out him. moments of sublime skill that ing celebrity as he fulfills ‘The reality is that England nies looking to endorse Flintoff, than getting paid a large sum to should endure, more than the PR- arrangements with a wide assort- moved on without Flintoff some there must be some sort of talk promote the place. A major high ‘The reality is that related poses on one knee at ment of sponsors, has changed time ago and it will be in of him one day returning to the street bank rewards him hand- Lord’s in 2009. And it is those the man. Brenkley continues... Freddie’s best interests too if he England side. Otherwise he somely because he is an “A list” England moved on thoughts which occupy Stephen ‘There is the perception moves on to the next chapter of would have to be classified as a companion of choice for major without Flintoff some Brenkley’s mind as he begins his among some that Flintoff has his life. mere journeyman, and nobody clients. He is going off on a piece in The Independent: changed, that he has moved away ‘That may sound harsh but really likes those people. motorcycle “odyssey” across time ago and it will ‘Heroes should always be from being the man on the maybe he needs to be sat down Mike Selvey is no fan of these for some TV company or be in Freddie’s best remembered for what they were. Preston omnibus; that he began and told that now, otherwise the PR men who cleverly (and rather other. The cash is rolling in and Andrew Flintoff is a copper-bot- revelling in the fame and seeking whole Flintoff circus will contin- too easily) manipulate the media, will continue to do so.’ interests too if he tomed hero. They do not come more of the fortune. The other ue to roll on and speculation and expresses his views on the And so, we suspect, will the moves on to the next any more legitimate. An Ashes week, his management company about another comeback will Guardian Sportblog: drip feed of news from the legend, an opponent who com- was forced to part company with continue. ‘Of course, it is the duty of Flintoff camp. The only question chapter of his life. bined genius, skill and effort, a Flintoff ’s long-time friend and ‘England have shown in the his management to keep him in is at what stage it stops being sportsman nonpareil, a competi- collaborator who had been taken past 18 months that everything the public eye, and this is no easy regarded as news. tor who continually defied injury, on as, among other things, they do these days is in the best (cricket365.com)

Parents can .... From page 10 Top Commonwealth Games Once a week, they can extend aged to make the best use of it. learn more English, but also to the duration of the “English The Internet is an inexhaustible improve their general scholastic Hour”, turn ing it into a source of English language performance. One important official resigns – Report kind of social get-together. Since teaching/learning and general advantage that students can the number of participants is an education materials. Many web- enjoy by using the Internet is NEW DELHI (AP) - A top offi- Corruption allegations have “It is something which is very important factor for its potential sites offer free downloadable that they can look for the newest cial of the Commonwealth Games dogged the Commonwealth Games, disturbing and we do feel that the for success, it would be a good materials for language practice, information in any field that they on Thursday stepped down from which will take place Oct. 3-14 in matter needs urgent attention by idea to invite other children who and testing; there are many free have chosen. the organising committee following New Delhi. Indian authorities,” Fennell told are relatives or neighbours to dictionaries. Using the Internet, Parents may access the fol- allegations that he gave a contract Government officials have local television NDTV. take part. Let the children organ- students can engage in activities lowing free websites with their ize the event. They can have a involving all the four basic lan- children for English language to his son’s firm. urged organizers to take action The corruption allegations are variety of items such as short guage skills; they can expose learning activities and see if In the latest setback to hit the against two high-ranking commit- just one of a myriad of problems event, Press Trust of India report- tee members accused of “alleged speeches, songs, dances, stories, themselves to different varieties they can be exploited: (These are facing the event. ed that the treasurer of the irregularities” relating to the playlets, etc all in English. of International English. In any just a handful out of countless Commonwealth Games organising Queen’s Baton Relay in London. New Delhi organisers have been Neighbours can take turns in family, parents with some knowl- such sites available on the Net.) committee, Anil Khanna, had Earlier this week, under pressure for more than a hosting such an event. If for prac- edge of English, or children http://www.readingenglish.n resigned in the wake of allegations Commonwealth Games Federation year since it became apparent that tical reasons, such camaraderie studying in higher forms can et/students/ that his son’s firm had been con- president Michael Fennell asked construction delays meant none of is not available, let it be in the browse through the Net, and http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/stu tracted to lay 14 synthetic surfaces local organisers for a full report on the venues would be finished privacy of one’s own family. make these resources available dyzone/ at R. K. Khanna Tennis Stadium. the corruption allegations. before deadline. By getting the children to for the younger children. They http://www.corpus.byu.edu/ read a lot of English, parents can can use these with some guid- bnc help them develop their vocabu- ance. http://www.clarity.comhk/pro- lary, and improve their speaking Parents should encourage gram/clickintoenglish.htm and writing skills. Parents should children to use the Internet to http://a4esl.org/ buy them story books, maga- research topics in other subjects http://www.usingenglish.co zines, papers, etc that are appro- even though they may be study- m 108 priate for their age. Local news- ing these in Sinhalese or Tamil. http://www.onestopenglish.c papers, especially their Sunday This will enable them not only to om editions, carry children’s supple- Crossword ments with a wealth of reading materials including English Solution– No. 107 medium lesson materials. It is good to introduce children to these irrespective of the medium of instruction that they have cho- sen. As far as possible English learning activities should be inte- grated into the study of other subjects. Before the proliferation of avenues of education and enter- tainment accompanying advances in communication tech- nologies like telephony, televi- sion, and computer, reading was a major source of knowledge as well as a popular pastime. Today the easy availability of computer- based education and entertain- ment seems to have driven read- ing as we knew it to a secondary position, particularly among the young. Literacy itself is acquir- Across 20 Gambler; one skilled in games 4Informal term for a mother (5) ing a new meaning. It has begun 7 Mucilaginous (6) (8) 5 Characterized by avoidance of tra- to mean a more composite, multi- 8 Part of the stamen that contains 21 Salary (4) ditional Western tonality (6) modal capacity than represented pollen (6) 23 Flippantly (6) 6 Mental deterioration of organic or by its conventional definition. Text is being replaced by image, 9 Dandy (4) 24 Mixture of untoasted dry cereals functional origin (8) as it were. 10 Remote controlled (8) and fruits (6) 12 Striking (8) Of course, the use of the com- 11 Building (7) 14 Make soiled, filthy, or dirty (7) puter and the Internet in the 13 Polish monetary unit (5) Down 16 Containing acetic acid (6) country, particularly in the rural 15 Obvious and dull (5) 1 Resentment (4) 18 Sedative (6) areas, may not be as widespread 17 Deliberately impassive in manner 2T he back side of the neck (6) 19 Alcohol (5) as we’d wish. At least those who (7) 3Person who is an assistant (7) 22 Gay festivity (4) have the facility must be encour-