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| November 4, 2005 | Friday | Shawwal 1, 1426 |
Flintoff excited by new challenge
LAHORE, Nov 3: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has said that he was looking forward for a new challenge in the series against Pakistan putting behind the Ashes series success.
Flintoff, who with medium-pacer Steve Harmison has joined his team-mates on a 59-day tour of Pakistan after a week, was speaking to reporters at a press conference on Thursday.
England who are visiting Pakistan after five years will play three Test and five One-day Internationals.
“Pakistan is a new challenge and I will keep my eyes open to be ready for a fresh start after a successful Ashes series at home,” he said.
Flintoff said that though he wanted to have some sleep but once in the nets he would be fully ready to play.
“I know about the workload on me during the series and I will follow my captain’s instructions to deliver,” Flintoff, who played a key role in England’s success in the Ashes series by scoring 402 runs and taking 24 wickets in five Tests, remarked.
He said that he did not set any batsman as his special target but he would try to score runs and take wickets.
“I am just looking forward to play cricket and to play my due role for team’s victory,” he said.
“The series is tough but the home sickness is also going to be equally tough,” Flintoff whose wife Rachel is expecting a second baby at home, added.
Flintoff, who had already toured Pakistan as skipper of Under-19 team in 1996-97, said that England would miss fast bowler Simon Jones, who left behind for his ankle surgery, but added the team efforts were important instead of individuals.
Both Flintoff and Jones made the difference in the Ashes with their ‘reverse swing’ skill.
Flintoff said that Pakistan former Test bowler Wasim Akram gave him tips about ‘reverse swing’. Wasim praises his art of swinging the ball and it was a great compliment for him, he said.
The England team arrived Lahore from Rawalpindi after winning the first three-day practice match by 52 runs. The second three-day match will start at the Bagh-i-Jinnah from Sunday.
Meanwhile, the England team showed its love for the game of golf as they immediately went to the Lahore Royal Palm Country Club to play barely an hour after arriving here.
Harmison, Geriant Jones, James Anderson and Mathew Hoggard made up a team and were looking serious to earn win against each other.
The security officials of the England team also played golf and enjoyed it which also served as practice for them.
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