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| England ready for Ashes challenge | England ready for Ashes challenge |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Captain Andrew Flintoff believes England will have to improve on their 2005 performance against Australia if they are to retain the Ashes. | Captain Andrew Flintoff believes England will have to improve on their 2005 performance against Australia if they are to retain the Ashes. |
| Flintoff and the rest of the squad will set off for Australia from Heathrow airport at 9.30pm on Friday evening. | Flintoff and the rest of the squad will set off for Australia from Heathrow airport at 9.30pm on Friday evening. |
| "It's going to be incredible," the Lancashire all-rounder said. | "It's going to be incredible," the Lancashire all-rounder said. |
| "There'll be all the attention, all the spotlight, all the rivalry and all the history. It gives me a tingle - I'm chomping at the bit to get started." | "There'll be all the attention, all the spotlight, all the rivalry and all the history. It gives me a tingle - I'm chomping at the bit to get started." |
| Flintoff played a huge part in England's 2-1 success last summer, scoring over 400 runs and taking 24 wickets. | Flintoff played a huge part in England's 2-1 success last summer, scoring over 400 runs and taking 24 wickets. |
| 606: DEBATE class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A16989934">I'd say England are slight favourites to retain the Ashes bathcricket class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/606/default.stm">606: Have your say This time he has the added responsibility of leading the side in the absence of Michael Vaughan, who is still working to regain full fitness after knee surgery. | |
| And he has under no illusions about how hard Australia will fight to regain supremacy in the game's oldest rivalry. | And he has under no illusions about how hard Australia will fight to regain supremacy in the game's oldest rivalry. |
| "Australia will be desperate to win back the Ashes and we're desperate to retain them. It will make for compelling viewing. | "Australia will be desperate to win back the Ashes and we're desperate to retain them. It will make for compelling viewing. |
| "I don't know if the series can be as good as the one last year, but one thing I know is it will be very tough and competitive," Flintoff told The Sun newspaper. | "I don't know if the series can be as good as the one last year, but one thing I know is it will be very tough and competitive," Flintoff told The Sun newspaper. |
| "I'm not one for making big statements or predictions, but we're going down there in a confident frame of mind. | "I'm not one for making big statements or predictions, but we're going down there in a confident frame of mind. |
| "We'll have to play well to succeed, probably even better than we did in 2005. But we have lads who can perform at the highest level. I believe we have a good chance." | "We'll have to play well to succeed, probably even better than we did in 2005. But we have lads who can perform at the highest level. I believe we have a good chance." |
| England start the tour with a one-day game against an Australian Prime Minister's XI at Canberra on 10 November. | England start the tour with a one-day game against an Australian Prime Minister's XI at Canberra on 10 November. |
| It will be followed by three-day games against New South Wales and South Australia before the main business of the first Test in Brisbane, which begins on 23 November. | It will be followed by three-day games against New South Wales and South Australia before the main business of the first Test in Brisbane, which begins on 23 November. |
| Australia seam bowler Glenn McGrath, meanwhile, is expecting England's batsmen to try and dominate him from the outset. | Australia seam bowler Glenn McGrath, meanwhile, is expecting England's batsmen to try and dominate him from the outset. |
| The 36-year-old recently returned to action at the ICC Champions Trophy after a lengthy break from the game to spend time with his wife, who has been battling cancer. | The 36-year-old recently returned to action at the ICC Champions Trophy after a lengthy break from the game to spend time with his wife, who has been battling cancer. |
| "I'll be happy if they come out like that," said McGrath. | "I'll be happy if they come out like that," said McGrath. |
| "Each game I've played, I've put a little piece of the puzzle back together. | "Each game I've played, I've put a little piece of the puzzle back together. |
| "There's a few more games until the Ashes and I shouldn't be too far off 100%." | "There's a few more games until the Ashes and I shouldn't be too far off 100%." |