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A contrite Andrew Flintoff has begged forgiveness for his drunken sailor antics following England's six-wicket cricket World Cup loss to New Zealand.
Flintoff issued an apology for a binge that ended when he needed rescuing after capsizing a pedal boat in the early hours of Sunday - the climax of a drinking session that also saw five teammates censured and fined.
The talismanic 2005 Ashes hero was stripped of the vice-captaincy and also suspended from yesterday's 51-run defeat of Canada - a result that keeps England's World Cup hopes alive.
Flintoff admitted his conduct was unacceptable, telling Cricket365: "I know that what I did was completely wrong and I have to take full responsibility for it.
"To my teammates 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 per cent for England for the rest of this tournament."
English newspaper reports that Flintoff fell off a pedal boat and got into difficulties in the water in the early hours forced England coach Duncan Fletcher to take action against him.
England have not named Flintoff's replacement as vice-captain, but Paul Collingwood is almost certain to be the leading candidate should anything happen to prevent Michael Vaughan leading the side during the tournament.
The other players fined for breaching the team's curfew were James Anderson, Ian Bell, Paul Nixon, Liam Plunkett and Jon Lewis.
England clamped down harder on Flintoff, having already given him several reprimands about his behaviour over the years - his last World Cup ended when he was fined for missing a team function in South Africa.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain had little sympathy for Flintoff. "There is a history to this story. It's not the first time. In Australia [during the recent Ashes and Tri-Series tour] he had three or four warnings about his drinking."
Speaking on Sky Sports, Hussain added: "This is a pretty young side. A lot of the team look up to Flintoff and if you keep saying it's okay for Freddie they will think, 'If he is doing it, I can do it'. This will now send a message to the others that this is not how you prepare as an England cricketer."
Bob Willis, another former England captain, was equally critical. "Some of the players are only going to have one opportunity to play in a World Cup and they don't need their talisman behaving like that."
However, Ian Botham, the last England player to be dropped from the team for a disciplinary matter after being banned for 63 days in 1986 for smoking marijuana, said the punishment was an over-reaction.
"Okay, there are 24 hours until the next game but people react in different ways. Some players go to bed at 10.30 tired, some go out and have a drink - the mistake was getting caught."
Flintoff also owes security staff, who apparently brought him ashore, a debt of gratitude.
Although the Caribbean waters are generally placid, two tourists in a pedal boat needed to be rescued yesterday after strong winds blew them offshore.
- NZPA
