IPL cannot make up for Ashes pleasure: Flintoff

Leeds, Aug 7 (PTI) Star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff rates
the Ashes rivalry against Australia as the ultimate for an
Englishman, which could not be compensated by playing in any
number of IPL or World Cup matches.

"The Ashes is like nothing else. You can have your World
Cups and IPLs, but as an Englishman, to be able to play in the
Ashes is the ultimate," said Flinotff, who has decided to
prematurely quit Test cricket after the series owing to his
recurring injury worries.

"I'm sure I speak for the Aussies as well. All the
traditions, all the great players who've played in it, all the
great contests. There's no doubt about it, these five weeks of
Test cricket are the best you'll ever play in," he said.

Flintoff, who starred in England's 2005 Ashes win, is
again standing tall in the series and he hopes to say goodbye
to Test cricket on a triumphant note.

"It's been a hugely enjoyable series so far. I've been
through some really tough times, two out of the last four
years have been spent doing rehab. The carrot at the end has
always been playing for England, pulling on the shirt again,
and all the more so against Australia," he was quoted as
saying by 'The Times'.

The 31-year-old cricketer also said the fans' noise
during the third Test at Edgbaston was enjoyable.

"The noise was amazing. Playing in front of full houses
like that is what you play the game for. Just go with it and
enjoy it," he said.

About the Headingley crowd, however, he said "They used
to call me the Honey Monster, back in the days when I was
massive, when I was about 20. I'd do anything to avoid
fielding there in those days."

But Flintoff admitted Twenty20 was helping in global
reach of cricket and making the sport "fashionable".

"The Ashes is great for the game in general, but I think
its appeal is broadening naturally. In the past it was only
seen as a public-school sport.

"If you look at the current England team, that isn't the
case. It's becoming much more fashionable and Twenty20 has a
lot to do with that. It's a fast game with big crowds and the
kids are identifying with that.

"Hopefully if they start watching that, they'll move on
to the longer forms and get involved in the grand scheme of
things. That's something that can be built on," he said.

Flintoff, inspired by David Beckham's football academy,
is looking to build on cricket's popularity by conducting
camps at summer and Easter for children aged seven to 16.

"I went to a school that didn't play cricket and you
don't know what you're losing out on. Where I grew up in
Preston, I was playing cricket every night of the week, but
other kids were nicking cars and up to no good. Sport has been
a massive part of steering me away from that and I hope
cricket can do that for other kids," he said. PTI SKI
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