Flintoff guarantees improvements

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff has promised a revival of his world beating form after a lacklustre Ashes and World Cup campaign.

Although his bowling has been as first rate as usual, his batting in recent times has let him down. During the Ashes he averaged 28 with the bat and just over 13 for the World Cup with a high score of 43 from eight matches.

“Sometimes you might need a rest but at this moment I want to get back to where I want to be in the game,” he told the BBC.

“I’m 29 and I feel my best years are in front of me but I’m going to have to work hard to prove that.”

“I’m keen to show that I’m a cricketer and committed to the game. That’s something we’re going to see over the next few weeks.

“I’ve had a little holiday, after the World Cup I stayed on in Barbados with the family and it gave me a chance to recap on the last 18 months.

“With my benefit, the Ashes and the World Cup it’s been a hectic time but now what I’m doing is getting back to cricket.

“That’s what I do best and what I enjoy doing, I’m not taking on anything else from outside the game.”

Flintoff has had a turbulent season. Leading his side to the first Ashes whitewash in over eighty years, the then captain was hounded by the British and Australian media after each loss.

It didn’t get much better when a British tabloid broke the news that Flintoff needed to be rescued at sea after a drunken escapade aboard a pedalo in the middle of the night. Flintoff has suspended for a match and stripped of the vice-captaincy as punishment.

It seems a long way away from his Ashes heroics less than two years ago, but new English coach Peter Moores is confident he can help Flintoff find the form that made him the best cricketer in the world so not long ago.

“I will be speaking to Andrew in the next week to find out where he is coming from and what helps him play the way he likes,” Moores said.

“You try to get the individual comfortable playing for their country where they can produce their best. Every time I have met Andrew, he is a positive man and he loves the game. He loves playing for his country.

“We have seen him play some unbelievable innings and bowl some unbelievable spells for England, the key is to get that out of him again and get him enjoying the game again.”