In a move that is sure to leave former Australian Test captain Ricky Ponting fuming, former England cricket star Andrew Flintoff suggested his side cheated in the 2005 Ashes series during a TV interview on Tuesday evening.
Appearing on Channel Ten's The Project, Flintoff was asked by host Waleed Aly whether England had cheated by tactically using a substitute fielder in the fourth Test. Flintoff took the bait during the light-hearted interview, replying: "Yeah. Yeah of course" to the amusement of the studio audience.
Flintoff was referring to his side's decision to use replacement fielder Gary Pratt at cover during the Test match. Pratt ran out Ponting with a direct hit at the striker's end, much to the delight of the Trent Bridge faithful.
A furious Ponting let fly at England coach Duncan Fletcher as he walked off, angry at the opposition's apparent use of substitute fielders to give fast bowlers a rest rather than to cover seriously ill or injured players.
In actual fact the man Pratt was replacing - right-arm quick Simon Jones - had been taken to hospital with an ankle injury.
Ponting later faced disciplinary action over the outburst, saying at the time: "My frustration at getting out was compounded by the fact that I was run out by a substitute fielder, an issue that has concerned us from the start of this series and one we raised before the series."
Australia went on to lose the Test and ultimately the series, 2-1.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Flintoff took to social media to play down the cheating remark, Tweeting: "I cheated I bowled too fast and hit the ball too hard, before knickers are twisted I appear to be joking", after a follower alerted him to news stories about his appearance on the TV show.
I cheated I bowled too fast & hit the ball too hard ,before knickers are twisted I appear to be joking @theprojecttv https://t.co/t2vMzlWpbh— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11)
December 1, 2015
In a lighthearted interview, Flintoff also backed Australia's decision to use team massage therapist Grant Baldwin in the field in Adelaide last week following an ankle injury to Mitch Starc.
"Give him a break, he's living the dream ... This poor lad day in, day out is rubbing Peter Siddle's glutes. He deserves an opportunity to get out onto the field.
"I'd have let him bat as well", said Flintoff.
smh.com.au
