Flintoff is nothing more than an attention seeker.

At a party with drink available in abundance and we know how that affects Freddie. Stupid boy.

Atherton was playing at a time when teams had world class quicks like Donald,McGrath,walsh,ambrose, younis,akram,and he showed himself to be a class act
Flintoff never in the same league

The 2005 ashes series "made" Freddie, no one would remember him if it wasn`t for that series.

Love him for it though

Sadly his drunken behaviour in the bus ride through London also sticks in my mind.

Fred has made himself look like a complete muppet on thsi one.
Atherton is a classy analyst and commentator, if Freddie disagreed with his analysis then he should have discussed that and debated him on it. Athertons achievements as a cricketer are irrelevant to the debate.

Most of the current England lot probably statistically have better records than the commentators employed by Sky. Should commentary be reserved for those that possess 50+ averages and have taken 400 wickets?

From what I read on cricinfo Freddie probably still harbours ill feelings about Atherton's comments when he was stand in captain for Vaughan.

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Comments made at a party where there's drink shouldn't be reported. I'm sure comments like this are made every day.

It's a worrying sign of the times when stuff like this gets into the papers.

Haza read the cricinfo article, he apparently told a journalist to print everything he said.

Flintoff basically had a great 18 months for England, and had the benefit of bowling as part of an awesome attack.

Atherton basically carried the England batting for about 10 years.

IMO Flintoff's bang out of order on this one.

Hopefor, so what. Apparently drink gives Freddie bravado as well as a foul mouth.

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if Atherton had played in the same period as flintoff, i reckon we would have seen athertons average, and probably strikerate, be a bit higher, more like a 42 than a 37.

in short, Atherton was one of England's few consistant performers in the 90s and without him, the results may well have been much worse. that's what i think of athers as a cricketer, obviously i can't comment on him as a person as i have never met him.

i'm a fan of both...liked athers as a player...like him on coms...

freddie's a 'character' not always for the right things...but a character anyhows.....

but i am inclined to go with athers on this one...not everyone is gonna fall at your feet fred and worship you..

actually...by all accounts fred was never really that popular in the dressing room....

I haven't been a fan of Flintoff for years. Good cricketer - never a number 6 batsmsn, but a quality go-to bowler.

However, I felt England played better as a team withiut him.

People who tend to love Flintoff are the post 2005 England fans. Other fans are those who judge a man on how much he drinks, how northern he sounds or how he poses whrn he takes a wicket - think the Ponting run out.

Atherton on the other hand is a legend. He may be Lancastrian, but he makes me proud to be English.

So, in summary - The celebrity show off, who acts like the standard lager lout - I am no saint mind...

Or, thedmart, articulate

Sorry...

Or tye smart, educated Atherton who batted with guts, integrity and completely for the team?

Atherton anyday!

I'm not a post 2005 fan Yorkie (not that I have any problem with new fans) and your assessment of Freddie is a bit black and white for me.

The reality is he carried our side way beyond its natural level for a couple of years. He was instrumental in beating one of the best sides to ever grace the game. To judge him on the amount he drinks or the cocky way he celebrates is bizarre. Sadly it's also an all too typical example of how we in England just love to take a dump on our sporting success stories.

How is it? We England like the grafter, the workman, the quite types ... Like Atherton.

Flintoff just got boring after a while. From his early days as a failing burley opener, he eventually turned into a great player. Nobody raved about him more than me. His captaincy in 2007 Ashes was poor, but I don't judge him on that. I judge him on stuff like his pathetic attention seeking insults to Atherton.

If you read the internet for reactions from ex players or professional writers, it is quite clear he us disliked in the game.

i have no problem with arrogance on the pitch....after all....the linw between confidwncw and arrogance can be a bit blurred...

he clearly had talent...and he knew it....

but off the pitch...show humility....and good grace...athers was equally important to the english game...and a shinning light in what were pretty tough times as a side.

"How is it? We England like the grafter, the workman, the quite types ... Like Atherton."

One of the many reasons why we struggle to dominate in any sport.

"How is it? We England like the grafter, the workman, the quite types ... Like Atherton."

One of the many reasons why we struggle to dominate in any sport.

Number one test team,how's that struggling?

Yeh...we've had the best team for all of 10 months for the first time in 50 years...that's domination for ya

Atherton's record compared to players like Cook is a joke, Cook's average will just keep going up and up.. whats Atherton on? 30.. joker

so he's not allowed an opinion.....?!