London: Sourav Ganguly feels England could have prolonged Andrew Flintoff’s Test career by balancing his batting and bowling. The former India captain added that frail physique, and not excessive cricket, was the reason behind the all-rounder’s injury woes.

“I always said England needed to balance his bowling with his batting if they wanted him to survive for longer in Test cricket,” Sourav said.

“He’s a big boy and injuries are part and parcel of sport, but there are other fast bowlers around the world who are running in and playing and doing well in Test matches.

“I think it’s more about Freddie’s body than the rigours of international cricket,” Sourav was quoted as saying by an English daily.

Sourav didn’t share the best of relationships with Flintoff during their days together at Lancashire and it worsened in 2002 when Flintoff’s shirt-swirling antics in Mumbai infuriated the Indian.

However, he was effusive in his praise for Flintoff and described the England player as his team’s best bowler.

“It’s a big loss for England... With England, every time they are under pressure it is Freddie with the ball because he is their best bowler,” he said. (PTI)