'You look like Tarzan but bowl like Jane' - Andrew Flintoff recalls the incident when he sledged Shoaib Akhtar

Former England international Andrew Flintoff, who is regarded as one of the best all-rounders to have played the game, revealed a funny sledging incident with Shoaib Akhtar. While facing Akhtar in 2005, Flintoff was irked by Akhtar’s comments as the Pakistan speedster kept calling him fat.

To retaliate, the English all-rounder hurled a jibe at Akhtar saying that the Pakistan pacer looked like a Tarzan but he bowled like Jane. However, Fintoff’s remark didn’t go down well as Akhtar dismantled his off stump and it was cartwheeling backwards while the all-rounder was walking back to the pavilion.

While talking with Talksport, Flintoff recited this hilarious sledging instance. To add salt to the wound, Akhtar also went ‘Oohhh!’ like Tarzan after uprooting Flintoff’s off stump. Flintoff felt that his remark had infuriated Akhtar so much that sent the England star back to the pavilion in no time with his lethal pace.

‘He kept calling me fat’: Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff narrated the whole incident and said, “He kept calling me fat and I was like I’m not having this. So, as I walked out, I told Shoaib– you look like Tarzan but you bowl like Jane. Which haunted me straightaway as, on the first or second ball, my off-stump was cartwheeling backwards & as I walked off he went OOHHH!”

Akhtar, who has the record of clocking 161.3 km/hr against England in 2003, was regarded as one of the most lethal bowlers at that time. During his prime, the speedster was capable of shattering any opposition batting force. Despite being marred with injuries, Akhtar boasted an illustrious ODI and Test career.

In a career spanning over 163 ODIs, the right-arm fast bowler scalped 247 wickets at an impressive economy of 4.76. He was lethal with the red ball too as he plucked 178 wickets in 46 Tests which included 10 four-wicket hauls and 12 five-wicket hauls.

Likewise, Flintoff also etched his name in the record books by etching an impressive all-rounder career during his stint with England. In 141 ODIs, he scalped 169 wickets and amassed 3394 runs. Flintoff was a crucial part of England’s Ashes 2005 squad too. In 79 Tests, the Lancashire-born all-rounder scalped 226 wickets along with gathering 3845 runs.

Here’s the conversation:

😡 “Akhtar kept calling me fat!”

😳 “As I walked out I said ‘Shoaib, you look like Tarzan but bowl like Jane’”

😫 “1st or 2nd ball my off stump was cartwheeling backwards & as I walked off he went ‘OOHHH!’”

Brilliant story from @Flintoff11 about facing @Shoaib100mph in 2005 🤣 pic.twitter.com/6gXVyj2Xfa

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 8, 2020