AUSTRALIA: CRICKET - England captain Andrew Flintoff admits he found the captaincy tough

Andrew Flintoff struggled with the burden of captaining England during the Ashes, coach Duncan Fletcher said on Saturday (January 6). 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. Fletcher said he was concerned before the series began that the added reponsibility of the captaincy would limit Flintoff's performances as a player. "That was one of the biggest fears we had when we appointed him captain, that there was too much of a workload on him, especially on a tour like this to Australia", he said. Flintoff was full of praise for his team and supporters for their efforts. "It's been tough, when you lose five test matches the feeling afterwards isn't great. On form as well, it's been hard work. On the upside I've been pleased with the lads, I've been pleased with the way they've responded, I've been pleased with the way they've stuck together, the coach and the boardroom staff, everybody has been working towards the same thing and it just hasn't happened", he said. 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. Meanwhile the Australian team celebrated their Ashes win into the night, on board a cruise ship sponsored by the PBL Chairman James Packer's luxury yacht. Australian bowler Glenn McGrath said it was great to celebrate the win. "It was a good night, I enjoyed the time in the rooms and the time with the boys out on the boat", he said. Australia's Justin Langer agreed that the celebration was well deserved. "It's not every day you won a test series like that so we partied accordingly last night" 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 one-day series against Australia later this month. 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.

ITN Source | January 7, 2007

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