MUMBAI, Feb 17: All-rounder Andrew Flintoff said he was better equipped to handle the home spin attack after suffering a disappointing tour the last time England visited India.

An inexperienced Flintoff was in the 2001-2 touring party and scored just 26 runs from five innings and generally struggled against the threat of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

“I’ll be keen to score a few more runs than I did last time. Twenty-five won’t be too hard to beat,” he told reporters after Friday’s practice session in Mumbai.

“I had just got back into the England side. Came out here and I thought I progressed as a bowler, but the batting didn’t quite go according to plan,” the 28-year-old said.

“I feel I know my game more now, have played a lot more cricket against various spin bowlers, quick bowlers and medium pacers and I think I’ve progressed since then,” he said.

The all-rounder described the tour of Pakistan late last year as an eye-opener.

After the euphoria of winning six straight Test series, including the Ashes, England stumbled to a 2-0 defeat on the low and slow wickets of Pakistan. Flintoff made just 125 runs from three Tests, but topped the bowling with 13 wickets.

“There were quite a few lessons. Patience was one of them. Playing in the sub-continent, you’ve got to stay in the game at all times.

“With the ball, it is difficult for the quick bowlers and seamers to blast away and take wickets like you might do in England. So patience was a big one. Also with the bat as well, you have to sit in a little more, the runs don’t come free-flowing as what they do back home.”

“We want to prove ourselves out here. It’s not just me who wants to do well, we want to do well as a side. It’s going to be a tricky series in such conditions.”

Flintoff has been working on the sweep shot against spinners at practice at the Cricket Club of India, where they play a three-day warm-up match from Saturday.

“I think coming out here, you’re going to be up against all sorts of types of spinning balls. I’m just trying to get a variety of ways in which to play, and the sweep may be one of them,” he said.

England is aiming to win a Test series in India for the first time in 21 years. The first Test begins in Nagpur on Mar. 1.—Reuters