Wednesday 6th August 2008
Freddie eager to restore pride
Andrew Flintoff admitted it is time he started to "perform properly" as England look to regain their pride in the fourth Test.
The Lancashire all-rounder did not envisage being on the losing side in both Tests with the Proteas at Headingley and Edgbaston after his return to international action following his well documented ankle problems.
Flintoff shone with the ball during South Africa's first innings in Birmingham but admits he has to start firing on all cylinders for his country.
"Two defeats is not the way I envisaged coming back with England. I didn't wait 18 months to get beaten," he said.
"It wasn't ideal but in a perverse way the first one at Headingley I enjoyed in the sense of being back around the lads, playing in front of a big crowd and playing for England.
"I just wish the outcome had been slightly different because for six months I've had to work so hard to get back in the side. I am enjoying being there.
"I've had a start, I've bowled some overs and I've batted okay - but now I need to start performing properly.
"Before this ankle operation, I thought if I didn't think I could recapture the form of previously I wouldn't have put myself up for all of this.
"I feel I can do that. I feel I am getting there. But I can rattle on as much as I can about it. I've got to start doing it out on the field."
England are 2-0 down in the series with just the one game left to play but Flintoff insists the game is still important as Kevin Pietersen's reign as captain gets under way.
Flintoff continued: "People go on about the Ashes next year. We've got Thursday to concentrate on. We've got beaten twice by South Africa and we've got to pull it around a bit.
"It is not a dead rubber. Maybe it is in the context of the series, but we are playing for England and we are certainly playing for pride. It is not measured by a trophy or a cheque. There is a lot for us to play for as cricketers.
"For a start, we've got to score more runs in the first innings of a Test match than we have in the last two to give ourselves a decent chance.
"As a group of players we've got to perform. We've got to put some pressure on South Africa."
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