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Flintoff ready to fire
Cricket, 10:27, June 30, 2009 ,
Andrew Flintoff has insisted he is fit and desperate to atone for the 5-0 whitewash by Australia when the Ashes gets underway.
The key all-rounder will step up his recovery from knee surgery in England's friendly against Warwickshire this week and believes he is only missing match fitness ahead of this summer's latest meeting against the old enemy.
"This game with Warwickshire is the final piece of the preparation for the team and for myself," said Flintoff.
"This last game is vitally important, for form and also to bowl some overs and to get some more runs."
The Lancashire favourite was one of the stand-out performers against Australia on home soil in 2005 but then suffered the ignominy of a 5-0 series drubbing two years ago Down Under when he was captain of the national side.
Injury has curtailed his progress most recently but Flintoff believes he is close to reaching full fitness and is determined to make up for the disappointment of that tour.
"The last Ashes was the low point of my career," he added.
"You experience the euphoria of 2005 and then the disappointments of 2006-2007. Probably the last series emotionally was the stronger of the two.
"But all that is behind us. We have got a very new team and, rather than dining out on 2005 or dwelling on 2006-2007, it is all about what happens over the next six weeks.
"As for any mental scars, I wouldn't say there are a great deal there. I am just looking forward to playing."