LONDON, Oct 6: Andrew Flintoff insists his lengthy injury lay-off has given him the perfect motivation to lead England to Champions Trophy and Ashes glory.

England captain Flintoff and his One-day squad flew out to India on Friday ahead of their first match in the bi-annual One-day tournament against the hosts in Jaipur on October 15.

After competing in India, England will travel to Australia to defend the Ashes crown they won last year after a 16-year wait.

And the Lancashire all-rounder believes that missing most of the season with an ankle injury has only increased his appetite to make the most of his match-winning talents during a gruelling few months that will climax with the World Cup in the West Indies next year.

Flintoff said: “I've had time away from the game this season and one of the things that is motivating me is I've done all the gym work and now I'm hungry to play cricket.

“I want to get back on the pitch and play. When you are not playing you actually realise what it means to you and how much you do miss it.

“Sometimes when you are playing all the time you take it a bit for granted.

“A forced break has made me realise what it means to me and how much I want to get back out there and play.” Halfway through this season Andrew Strauss took over the captain's job from Flintoff, who had already replaced the injured Michael Vaughan, when the England star's long-standing ankle problem flared up again.

He had surgery to finally cure the injury and, although Strauss led England to a Test series win against Pakistan and also rallied the side to share the One-day series, Flintoff was handed the captaincy for the up-coming tours.

But Flintoff is happy to take advice from Strauss and has no doubts they can work well together.—AFP