10-21-2006, 12:05 AM
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General Musharraf
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Posts: 10,007
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ICC Champions Trophy 12th Match: England vs Australia
Flintoff wary of dew and pitch
England captain Andrew Flintoff today said he was wary of the dew factor when his team takes on Australia in the Champions Trophy one-dayer in Jaipur on Saturday.
"The dew factor, some days it has been there, some days it hasn't. There's no hard and fast way of knowing if it comes down. I don't think the dew came down a great deal in our game against India," Flintoff said on the eve of the must-win tie for both the teams at the Sawai Mansingh stadium.
England went down to India by four wickets after a batting collapse saw them being bowled out for 125 at the same venue on Sunday.
The Sri Lanka vs Pakistan game, played on the adjacent strip, saw a decent batting performance though, with the former posting 253 and the latter overhauling it with 11 balls to spare.
Flintoff also said he would not be bowling against Australia.
"I'm pleased I am pushing it day by day. I am pleased by the way it's going, but as for tomorrow's game, I'm not quite there," said the all-rounder who underwent an ankle operation and was out for three months until he played in India game.
The 26-year-old Lancashire player said the players were keen to perform well and win the biennial event for the moment instead of worrying about the Ashes series starting next month.
"We are playing a big one-day international against Australia in an important competition tomorrow, so we are focussing on that," Flintoff said.
"Playing against Australia is a proud moment and it's a big occasion. To be honest, I'm not looking too far ahead. We have got a bit game tomorrow and that's where we are concentrating.
"Once the competition is out of the way, we will focus our attention on Ashes."
He said the team that handles pressure better would win the game tomorrow.
"Australia is a fine side, they are a bit of favourites going into tomorrow's game. Both sides have lost their opening games and it's a huge game for both teams.
"It's about who is going to hold the nerve tomorrow, who's going to perform on the day, we are expecting to play well."
Flintoff hoped the wicket would be more batting friendly than it had been in the previous matches of the tournament so far.
"People want to see big scores as it hasn't quite happened yet in the competition because of pitches or bowlers bowling exceptionally well," he said.
"It was quite tricky when we played here last time. I am not sure what we are going to get tomorrow. People want to see big scores and exciting games hopefully remainder of the competition can produce that."
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