Flintoff back where it began

Andrew Flintoff prepares for the opening tour match

When Andrew Flintoff looks back upon his rise to reigning world player of the year he remembers the first steps being taken in India.

England all-rounder Flintoff, 28, crowned as the International Cricket Council’s premier player at a Sydney ceremony in October, did not even make the touring party last time England were here.

But belatedly called in from the wilderness of the Adelaide-based academy by coach Duncan Fletcher, the Lancastrian all-rounder began building a reputation as a serious bowler.

He arrived as a batsman who could turn his arm over but finished in celebratory mood, famously twirling his shirt above his head in recognition of one of many fine bowling displays securing a five-run win to level the one-day series here in Mumbai.

As he concedes that 10-second moment of madness was in the days he was “young and daft”, but the “older and wiser” version has been developed from an appreciation of how to combine the role of a top-class all-rounder, as he did so memorably against the Australians last summer.

Reflecting on his previous tour of India, in which he managed a paltry 26 runs in the Test series, Flintoff said: “My bowling improved no end, my batting did not quite go according to plan but since then I feel I know my game a lot better.

“It was here that I realised I could bowl a bit. Before I just ran in and bowled, quite negatively at times, just trying to bowl maidens and keep the runs down.

Flintoff's wickets were vital to the Ashes success © Getty Images

“Although I did that a little bit out here, in Bangalore I came in and took wickets and from there I kicked on as a bowler.

"That gave me confidence and over the past three years I have expected more with the ball than I used to.”

Indeed, Flintoff’s 24 wickets in the Ashes was bettered only by Shane Warne, while he scored 402 runs to boot, a greater amount than any Australian mustered.

“I enjoy my role and it is one I have done quite successfully for three years or so,” said Flintoff.

“It is difficult to find the balance of getting the two going well at the same time but it is something that happened successfully for six weeks last year.

“Most all-rounders struggle to bat and bowl well at the same time but hopefully I can have another little window of doing that out here.”

Flintoff has added pace to his bowling and patience to his batting since being summoned to Chandigarh as a result of Craig White conceding he could no longer propel the ball regularly at 90 miles per hour.

In fact, England’s biggest concern is over-using their prize asset.

His involvement in the Super Series, only three weeks after the Ashes conclusion, deprived Flintoff of rest prior to the tour of Pakistan and with a hectic 13-month schedule, including the return series against Australia and the World Cup, ahead the England management will have to look after his well-being.

England are keen not to overwork Flintoff

Flintoff sat down with captain Michael Vaughan and coach Fletcher after the Pakistan trip to discuss his workload, which aggravated the ankle from which he had a bone spur removed 12 months ago.

He spent the first six weeks of 2006 working on what he refers to as a “rehab programme” with Lancashire physio Dave Roberts but insists he is happy with the way the joint has responded and his overall fitness.

“The past two days I have bowled, I have been icing the ankle and had it strapped up, so it is not something which I expect to reoccur as I have had a decent rest now,” Flintoff said, on the eve of the opening tour match against a Cricket Club of India President’s XI.

“A lot of my body has been a bit stiff from bowling so it is not something I am majorly concerned about.

“I feel I am pretty much where I would like to be at this stage, both cricketing-wise and fitness-wise.

“Working hard on my fitness has been a conscious effort - you can’t turn up on the sub-Continent being anything but at your best fitness-wise.”

Flintoff has become a global star with his performances for England and he used that status to promote the Magic Bus charity in Mumbai, one which encourages children from India’s slums to improve their lives through sport.

Flintoff still hopes to be at the birth of his second child © Getty Images

On a personal note, meanwhile, Flintoff remains intent on returning home during the tour to be with wife Rachael and witness the birth of their second child.

“My wife is four weeks away from giving birth again and it is something I want to be at home for and intend to be at home for,” Flintoff reiterated.

“But Holly arrived a month early so there is no plan at this stage set in stone. It is just a case of waiting and seeing what happens.

“It could happen at any time and if it happens halfway through the first Test match there is not a great deal I can do, is there? It will be a bridge I will have to cross when I get a little bit closer.”