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| Flintoff hopeful for 2009 series | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Andrew Flintoff believes England can bounce back and regain the Ashes in 2009 despite playing poorly this time. | Andrew Flintoff believes England can bounce back and regain the Ashes in 2009 despite playing poorly this time. |
| Flintoff, who presided over a rare 5-0 series defeat, said: "I've experienced it from both sides now, the jubilation of 2005 and now the emotion of today. | Flintoff, who presided over a rare 5-0 series defeat, said: "I've experienced it from both sides now, the jubilation of 2005 and now the emotion of today. |
| "We've seen the Australians walking round the ground taking the Ashes back, which they fully deserve. | "We've seen the Australians walking round the ground taking the Ashes back, which they fully deserve. |
| "But hopefully in 2009 it could be us walking around the ground and acknowledging the crowd." | |
| Interview: England captain Andrew Flintoff Interview: England coach Duncan Fletcher | Interview: England captain Andrew Flintoff Interview: England coach Duncan Fletcher |
| Flintoff was a stop-gap captain in the absence of the injured Michael Vaughan in Australia. | Flintoff was a stop-gap captain in the absence of the injured Michael Vaughan in Australia. |
| He did his best to marshall the team, but was criticised for some of his team selections in the early part of the series. | He did his best to marshall the team, but was criticised for some of his team selections in the early part of the series. |
| Questions were also raised as to whether he had the power to motivate the players in the way Vaughan has done on previous tours. | Questions were also raised as to whether he had the power to motivate the players in the way Vaughan has done on previous tours. |
| Flintoff, who must wait and see if he will lead the side in the one-day series, added: "You look at the side in our dressing room. It's a young side. | Flintoff, who must wait and see if he will lead the side in the one-day series, added: "You look at the side in our dressing room. It's a young side. |
| "We've got to regroup. Australia have come back better and stronger, almost raised the bar. | "We've got to regroup. Australia have come back better and stronger, almost raised the bar. |
| "They've played some fantastic cricket over five Test matches. | "They've played some fantastic cricket over five Test matches. |
| "But we've got to work on that now. We've got to get better. We've got a lot of cricket between now and 2009 to improve." | "But we've got to work on that now. We've got to get better. We've got a lot of cricket between now and 2009 to improve." |
| Coach Duncan Fletcher denied England had lacked desire. | Coach Duncan Fletcher denied England had lacked desire. |
| He suggested the absences of Vaughan, Simon Jones and Marcus Trescothick were crucial factors behind England's inconsistency. | He suggested the absences of Vaughan, Simon Jones and Marcus Trescothick were crucial factors behind England's inconsistency. |
| The selection process is fine. It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong? Duncan FletcherEngland coach | The selection process is fine. It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong? Duncan FletcherEngland coach |
| He said: "There's been some big losses to this side, huge losses, and it always takes time to fill those gaps. | He said: "There's been some big losses to this side, huge losses, and it always takes time to fill those gaps. |
| "When you get young guys coming into a side, they're always inconsistent and that's what happened." | "When you get young guys coming into a side, they're always inconsistent and that's what happened." |
| Fletcher defended the team selection process on overseas tours, which led to some controversial decisions in the opening matches. | Fletcher defended the team selection process on overseas tours, which led to some controversial decisions in the opening matches. |
| Monty Panesar and Chris Read were both initially overlooked despite having strong claims to starting berths. | Monty Panesar and Chris Read were both initially overlooked despite having strong claims to starting berths. |
| Fletcher and Flintoff were the men to pick the sides, with no input from chairman of selectors David Graveney. | Fletcher and Flintoff were the men to pick the sides, with no input from chairman of selectors David Graveney. |
| And Fletcher said: "From my point of view, the selection process is fine. It's been successful. | And Fletcher said: "From my point of view, the selection process is fine. It's been successful. |
| "It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong? | "It's the second Test series we've lost in 11 or 12 and suddenly it's wrong? |
| "I don't think it has to be changed at this stage but other people feel differently." | "I don't think it has to be changed at this stage but other people feel differently." |
| 606 DEBATE: Will England regain the Ashes in 2009? | 606 DEBATE: Will England regain the Ashes in 2009? |
| Former England chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth had little sympathy for the beleagured tourists and was critical of their preparation. | Former England chairman of selectors Ray Illingworth had little sympathy for the beleagured tourists and was critical of their preparation. |
| "They thought they were better than what they were," he said. "They have been brought down to Earth with a bump and got what they deserved." | "They thought they were better than what they were," he said. "They have been brought down to Earth with a bump and got what they deserved." |
| Illingworth, who captained the victorious Ashes tour of 1970-71, added: "In the batting, for me all Duncan Fletcher seems to coach is the sweep shot. I really think they should do away with it and learn to play the ball straight." | Illingworth, who captained the victorious Ashes tour of 1970-71, added: "In the batting, for me all Duncan Fletcher seems to coach is the sweep shot. I really think they should do away with it and learn to play the ball straight." |
| Also coming in for criticism from the Yorkshireman was Steve Harmison, who took 10 wickets at a cost of 61 apiece in the five matches. | Also coming in for criticism from the Yorkshireman was Steve Harmison, who took 10 wickets at a cost of 61 apiece in the five matches. |
| "I don't think Harmison has got a big heart," Illingworth said. "Maybe leaving him out once, saying you are not bowling well enough, should have happened." | "I don't think Harmison has got a big heart," Illingworth said. "Maybe leaving him out once, saying you are not bowling well enough, should have happened." |