SYDNEY, Jan 6: Andrew Flintoff struggled with the burden of captaining England during the Ashes, coach Duncan Fletcher said on Saturday.

Fletcher told a news conference that Flintoff often had problems deciding how to manage his young bowlers against an experienced and ruthless Australian batting lineup.

“He found it difficult,” Fletcher said.

“With a lot of young bowlers out there he's got to (decide whether to) protect them, or does he go and attack a side of attacking batters?

“He's come up with a policy that he believes is right and it's been a very, very difficult job for him.”

Fletcher said he was concerned before the series began that the added reponsibility of the captaincy would limit Flintoff's performances as a player.

Flintoff had been named player of the series in England's shock Ashes win in 2005 but made little impact this time, averaging 28 with the bat and capturing just 10 wickets at 43 with the ball.

“I do believe there is a lot to ask of him, especially with a young, inexperienced side where you've got to do a lot of captaining,” Fletcher said.

“You're not really getting the help from these young guys that say (Australia captain Ricky) Ponting gets from the experienced guys around him. So it is a very difficult job for him.”

Flintoff was handed the Ashes captaincy after England's regular skipper Michael Vaughan was ruled out with injury but team officials have yet to decide who will lead the side in the upcoming one-day series against Australia.

Vaughan was selected in the squad subject to a fitness test but Flintoff told reporters he wanted to keep the job regardless of whether Vaughan played or not.

“If I was asked to continue as captain then of course,” Flintoff said.

“If I got asked the same question that I was asked at the end of September or whenever it was again now, then I'd do the same thing.”—Reuters