Harmison recalls incident of Flintoff abusing Ganguly; says Sourav rubbed people the wrong way

Flintoff and Ganguly never gelled even when playing for Lancashire.

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 16 Jul, 2021

Even though there is a bit of banter amongst cricketers on the field most of them are good friends off the field but that was not the case between Sourav Ganguly and Andrew Flintoff.

In fact, in Flintoff's biography, the former England all-rounder had mentioned how Ganguly simply wouldn't work out during his time at Lancashire and how it was a struggle with him.

In a recent interaction with former Australia spinner Brad Hogg, former England fast bowler Steve Harmison talked about another incident between Flintoff and Ganguly on Harmison’s Test debut in 2002 against India.

What was it with Sourav? He rubbed people off the wrong way. People didn't get along with Sourav Ganguly. I remember playing my debut and I got him out for 99 first ball of an over,Harmison said on his YouTube Show 'Test of Time'.

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Andrew Flintoff had just gone off to the toilet, and literally Freddie ran the drinks back on to abuse Sourav as he was going back for 99. Ganguly is a lovely guy but it was just something about Sourav Ganguly that people did not get on with him,” he added.

The relations between Ganguly and Flintoff were no secret as it was visible when the former England all-rounder took his shirt off as his team clinched a thrilling win in an ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The former India skipper replied in kind by taking his own shirt off and swirled it in the air as India famously beat England by two wickets to win the 2002 Natwest Trophy final at the Lord's Cricket Ground, with the winning runs coming off Flintoff's bowling.

By Swapnil Shireesh Javkhedkar - 16 Jul, 2021

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