ENGLAND legend Andrew Flintoff branded Jos Butler a “lucky lad” over his Test recall.
Buttler, 27, has not featured since 2016 after prioritising the riches of global T20 cricket.
So his surprise call-up to face Pakistan at Lord’s left 2005 Ashes hero Flintoff stumped.
He said: “He’s so lucky. It’s not earned and I think the opportunity has been given to him.
“He doesn’t play red ball cricket anymore and he had not performed in it.
“I was tearing my hair out seeing that he was putting the IPL before international cricket.
“He’s got a chance but it’s whether he deserves it – i’m not quite sure.”
Flintoff, 40, reckons the route back to the test arena taken by Jonny Bairstow is the one to take.
The current wicketkeeper put in the hard yards back at Yorkshire after being axed by England for 18 months in 2014.
He added: “I am a fan of Joss, he’s a fine player – but this is a lifeline, his biggest opportunity ever.
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“I’m not a traditionalist but take Bairstow, for instance.
“Test cricket didn’t go well first time around so he went back to Yorkshire, improved his game ten-fold and scored run after run in first class cricket.
“He gets back into the side and showed everyone what a brilliant player he is. For me, that’s the way you do it.
“Joss played a bit of test cricket and it didn’t work out for him so instead he went around the world playing white ball cricket.
“He’s got to take the chance with both hands – this is the pivotal moment for him as a cricketer.
“If I was him I would grab this opportunity so hard because he is one lucky lad.”
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Freddie also called on Stuart Broad to steam in this summer and get under the opposition’s skin.
Broad, 31, had a disappointing winter Down Under and Flintoff doesn’t see the value of him in the side unless he is bowling with pace and aggression.
He said: “Stuart Broad has to bowl quick – he’s at his most effective when he is charging in and bowling at 85 mph plus.
“That’s when he is worth his weight in gold and worth his place in the team.
“If he’s going to bowl 78-80mph, there are plenty of lads in country cricket who can do that.
“He has to be bowling quick and aggressive, not just putting it on a length and trying to nibble it about.”
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