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Andrew Flintoff has urged England to use their stunning Ashes triumph as a springboard towards world domination.
Flintoff, who is booked in tonight for a knee operation that will keep him out of action for several months, has now retired from Test cricket. However, he has no doubt that the team he leaves behind can go on to even bigger and better things.
“We've won the Ashes, which is fantastic,” said Flintoff, who admitted to having a good celebration last night but looked a lot less hung-over than the bleary-eyed hero of 2005.
“If there is a lesson to be learned from the past then it's that now is the time to try to dominate the world of cricket as a Test team.
“We've got the players to do it and the captain to lead us in Andrew Strauss, and it is a realistic goal. Enjoy this week, get it out of your system and then move on — almost be Australia-like in the way they have gone about things.
“They have won series in the past and then continued to beat people. There is going to be a big test in the winter against South Africa and there are a lot of challenges in front of the team. But, with what we've got, we can live up to them.”
But England team director Andy Flower was today keen to advise a note of caution to those dreaming of topping the world rankings.
“It is sensible to keep a lid on it,” said the Zimbabwean. “We have a long way to go as a side, but we are still number five, so we have to work very hard to get where we want to be. We are mentally tough, but we are inconsistent, and that inconsistency has undoubtedly added interest to the series. We have to find that consistency if we are to fulfil our ambitions.”
If England are to move onwards and upwards from No5 in the Test rankings then they may have to do it without Steve Harmison, who could retire from the international arena in the next week or so.
“Steve will make his own decisions but I would urge him to carry on and become one of England's all-time leading Test wicket-takers,” said Flintoff of the 30-year-old who now has 226 victims after picking up three at The Oval yesterday. “He can easily get 300 and then go on from there.”
Reader views (9)
Well done England, that was a pretty impressive win! Australia are not an easy team to beat, ask the world's number one team, South Africa [per ICC rankings]. Beating England in England is not easy, the weather and the pitch conditions can be very tricky.Enjoy the win and we are all looking forward to the series against South Africa it should be a cracker!
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, NY, USA, 24/08/2009 15:59
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Well done - and you should hear the amount of whinging and hard done by moans over hear - its great.
- Mr Pastry, Brisbane Australia, 24/08/2009 12:25
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England are deserving winners - a great Ashes series. Freddy throwing down the stumps was the back breaker for the improbable run chase, and while I was devastated, I was also very impressed - he is a great character and player.
Already looking forward to the next series
Enjoy the win you guys!
- George, Sydney, Australia, 24/08/2009 11:58
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Celebrate,we won the ashes,but must not forget we were playing a nation that is not very good at sport.Hopeless at football,useless at rugby and pathetic at cricket,although I here they are pretty good at ping pong.
- David, london, 24/08/2009 11:38
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Delighted with England´s victory, well done lads, but still remembering what happened after 2005. We´ve regained the ashes, now let´s see if we can keep them.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 24/08/2009 11:27
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Phillip, how depressing some people can be, eh? Why not enjoy this fleeting moment, as I shall?
We have too many people in this country who want to do-down anything that resembles success, as though it was an embarrassment to succeed.It's this attitude which has made us "losers" for so long.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 24/08/2009 11:15
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Thanks Phillip for your very positive comments. Typical morose comment. Even when we win in style a small minority are not happy and ready to knock the team. Strauss was top run taker and you cannot argue with that. Strauss has never come across as cocky and carried it off in style yesterday with his praise of Ponting. Not sure what your problem is but maybe you should watch another sport or go back home to Australia?
- Andrew, St. John's Wood, London, 24/08/2009 11:11
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No triumphialism please. Keep it low key. The fruits of vitory soon evapoarate and its back to crisis management.
- Dhan Raj, Basildon, 24/08/2009 10:46
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Yeh yeh Strauss, wasn`t something similar said last time they beat the Aussies, odds are on,they will get drunk for few months,live up to the media hype,over rejoice in the moment,get knighthoods,have a london parade then go and lose the Ashes in Australia easily.
Straus is a big head,2 0r 3 players are not worth a place,and it was to be fair an Ashes series played out by two very ordinary internattional sides
- Phillip, west herts, 24/08/2009 09:24
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