Pedal Boats and Peccadillos: Flintoff Sacked After Boozy 4am Escapade

England's most talismanic cricketer, Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was yesterday stripped of the vice-captaincy and banned for one match after being involved in a drunken 4am escapade on a pedalo.

Flintoff, who had been on an eight-hour drinking spree with team-mates after England lost their first match in the World Cup, had to be helped by staff at a five-star hotel in St Lucia after he fell into the rough waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The all-rounder was contrite last night, saying he was "extremely sorry" for letting down his team-mates and supporters.

England's coach, Duncan Fletcher, revealed yesterday that Flintoff, who was captain for England's disastrous 5-0 Ashes defeat in Australia, had been warned and disciplined for previous similar misdemeanours.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said: "Andrew Flintoff has been given warnings about his conduct and discipline for previous incidents of this nature. In light of this and due to the serious nature of the incident in which he was involved at the hotel on Friday night we have decided to take further disciplinary action against him. Andrew has been made fully aware of the team management's concerns and the fact the ECB considers this type of behaviour to be totally unacceptable."

Flintoff later made a profuse apology. "I know that what I did on Friday night was completely wrong and I have to take full responsibility for it," he said in a statement. "There can be no excuses on my part. I know I shouldn't have done what I did and I have to accept the punishment.

"To my team-mates and the England supporters that I let down, all I can say is that I am extremely sorry and assure everyone that I will be giving 110% for England for the rest of this tournament."

The 29-year-old all-rounder's fall from grace has been sudden and spectacular. Eighteen months ago, the reaction was largely tolerant when Flintoff went on a 24-hour bender to celebrate a 2-1 victory in the 2005 Ashes. The team stayed up all night drinking, before taking a boozy open-top bus ride to Trafalgar Square and slurring their way through celebrations at Downing Street. Three months later Flintoff was named BBC sports personality of the year.

But the dream turned sour in Australia this winter and the management's tolerance of his occasionally erratic behaviour reached breaking point came after Friday's defeat at the hands of New Zealand. Hours after the setback, Flintoff, who had been caught first ball, and a group of England players, were seen by holidaymakers and members of the Barmy Army - England's hard core of supporters - drinking the night away at the Rumours nightclub in the island's Rodney Bay area.

When Flintoff got back to the Rex St Lucian Hotel, according to the News of the World, he brushed past a security guard and dragged a pedalo out to sea. He was seen rocking it from side to side until it capsized and a member of staff pulled him back to land. The newspaper quoted a hotel source as saying: "Freddie could have drowned out there. It is rough in the sea at night and it's not particularly helpful if you've had plenty to drink."

It is thought that disgruntled fans, disappointed by England's performances over the winter, tipped off newspapers and forced a response from the team management when Fletcher and tour manager Phil Neale heard of the incidents at breakfast.

News of Flintoff's suspension began to emerge yesterday when it became clear he was not on the team coach heading for the Beausejour Stadium for a crucial qualifying match against Canada. At the toss England captain Michael Vaughan confirmed that Flintoff had "unfortunately breached team discipline" and was at the hotel.

Later Vaughan added: "All the players are bitterly disappointed with their actions. When you are doing these kinds of things, you don't think. All the players had realized what they'd done and they were all angry with themselves."

Flintoff will be available for England's final group match, against Kenya on Saturday.

To compound a miserable day for England, five other players - James Anderson, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett - were fined for breaching team discipline by returning late from the nightclub. Fletcher said they all wished to "express their sincere regrets for the embarrassment caused".

But Ian Botham, a former England captain with an equally legendary thirst, said: "I think it's an over-reaction. Did people complain in 2005 when we won the Ashes? Some people go to bed at 10.30pm tired, other people like to go for a drink."

Drinks intervals


July 2000

Flintoff told to get into shape or lose his England place; worries over ballooning weight leaked to media.

December 2002

Former ECB chairman Ian MacLaurin questions Flintoff's lifestyle during injury-enforced layoff. "I think he was doing things during his recuperation that he probably shouldn't have," he said.

August 2004

Spotted in the crowd during a Twenty20 game. Encouraged by fans' cheers, he downs his pint in a single swig.

September 2005

Celebrates Ashes victory with 24-hour bender. "I don't regret it, but I wish they hadn't put the pictures in the paper," he said.

December 2006

Criticised for drinking with Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne after England's Ashes defeat in Adelaide Test. "We did exactly the same at The Oval last year when we took the Ashes away from them," he said.