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England wear it well as Aussies drown their sorrows
Benedict Moore-Bridger, Peter Dominiczak and Karen Attwood24.08.09
The last time England won the Ashes, Andrew Freddie' Flintoff drank. And drank. And drank. Then he drank some more in the course of a now-famous, 24-hour celebratory bender.
Four years on and four years older and wiser, Flintoff revealed today how he celebrated regaining the Ashes with a quiet beer with his father.
At a press conference today, the 31-year-old said of last night's celebrations: “We had a room in the hotel for friends and family and celebrated a memorable day — it wasn't too crazy.
“I remember 2005 — contrary to popular belief. 2005 was fantastic, it almost snuck up on us. I lived for the moment then and celebrated hard. But this time it was something which I savoured.
“It was quite nice — all the families came over. I sat with my wife and my kids, my dad who has done so much for me throughout my career. I was able to have a beer with my dad. It was very different but in a lot of ways far more enjoyable.”
Flintoff went to bed at 1am, in stark contrast to his round-the-clock drinking last time around, after being overheard declaring: “I am going to bed. I'm too old for this now.”
All he had managed was a mere seven hours of boozing after a victory at The Oval which had one tabloid today demanding he be knighted for his cricketing (not drinking) achievements.
The all-rounder was spotted again this morning, sober as a judge and taking a short trip to the shops with his daughter to buy four cans of an energy drink. Later he was photographed hand-in-hand with his wife Rachael.
His heir-apparent Stuart Broad, 23, who was named man of the match yesterday, managed a better show. He only stopped partying at 3am because his girlfriend finally convinced him it was time for bed. Not a bad effort, although Flintoff in his heyday would never have succumbed so early. The rest of the players emerged this morning a little the worse for wear after a night in residence in the private penthouse at the team hotel overlooking Tower Bridge. Asked if everyone was hung over Paul Collingwood answered with a wry smile: “Yep.”
Spin bowler Graeme Swann described the celebrations as “massive”, adding that “everybody got drunk”. Meanwhile, the Australians refused to take their defeat lying down.
Ricky Ponting and company headed for Boujis nightclub with their wives and girlfriends for a night drowning their sorrows.
