Flintoff reveals classic Ashes anecdote

Former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff has recounted a classic Ashes anecdote about how he got inside the heads of Australia during the final days of the epic 2005 series.

Flintoff was named joint player of the series, along with Shane Warne, after inspiring the hosts from 1-nil down to a 2-1 series victory that returned the Ashes urn to England for the first time since 1989.

Now, 12 years on, the 39-year-old still takes great delight talking about his memories of the series, which is never more apparent in the yarn he spun on the BBC podcast Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy yesterday.

While he dominated on the field, Flintoff talks about the mind games he employed off it, in particular to star Australia players Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee.

Below is transcript of Flintoff’s tale which can be heard in full here.

Image Id: 5902916856EB448291B99DD84A6240EE Image Caption: The entertainer // Getty

"Last day of the Ashes or second to last day, I was playing at The Oval and Neil Fairbrother came down for dinner," Flintoff said.

"I booked a table at The Ivy with me and my missus and him and his missus. I think it was someone’s birthday so we had a few bottles of red and then I ordered a pudding.

"(Fairbrother) said ‘Are you having a pudding?’

"I said ‘You know what I’ll have … I bowled 12 overs tonight and then tomorrow I need some energy, I’m not going to stop bowling until they’re out.’

"And he looked at me and says, ‘I believe you.’

Image Id: 23DEB27EE77E4303AF892CF2F21630A6 Image Caption: Flintoff accepting the Compton-Miller Medal // Getty

"I turned up the next morning, I had it all planned.

"We got to The Oval, usually I was last in, (but) I got in early.

"I drove in, when the Aussies were getting off the team bus I wanted them to see me. So I waited.

"So I was outside, they were all walking past, I went, ‘Morning, morning lads. You alright? Morning, morning,’ and they’re looking at me.

"Then I ran up the stairs, I got to the top of the stairs, there’s a corridor at the back of the dressing room and I stood there so when they walked past to go to their dressing room they walked past me.

"I go, ‘Morning lads, you alright? Alright Glenn (McGrath), alright Shane (Warne)? Good day, good day,’ because they were under the pump.

Image Id: F6CEB264411B4ACC96473568FD85A9FD Image Caption: Flintoff and Warne each had a magical series // Getty

"I got in the dressing room, sat, got a coffee, got changed, sat at the top outside and had a cup of coffee in my hand, watched them go out warming up.

"Our team are warming up already, (Australia) have walked past me, I’ve gone, ‘Morning lads, lovely day ain’t it, lovely day this,’ and they’re all looking at me.

"I went out on the pitch – I hated warm ups – (Australia) are warming up, so I walked over and got a ball out of our bag and I could see Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were bowling to Adam Gilchrist.

"I’d bowled all day the previous night and was going to bowl the next morning, so rather than warm up with our team I went over to the Aussies, I said, ‘Lads, do you mind if I just join in because our lads are still playing football and messing about, I just want to get back in, bowl a couple of balls and I’m done.’

And they looked at me bemused and said, ‘Yeah, mate.’

"So I got my ball, marked my run up and came hurtling in. I was so stiff and sore. I was so stiff and I thought I’ve got to do this.

"I came hurtling in, I’ve pinged one through to Adam Gilchrist, he’s taken it above his head, thrown me the ball back and I just went, ‘Cheers, lads. That’ll do me,’ just rolled my ball away and walked off.

"As I’m walking past I want someone to say something. You know you’re walking and you’re thinking, ‘C’mon, someone say something,’ and Glenn McGrath said, ‘Hey mate, do you ever get stiff?’

"I said, ‘I’ve never heard of it, what is it?’

"I thought at that point, ‘I’ve got you lot,’ and I walked up to the dressing room and I collapsed in a heap.

"Then I went out and bowled them out the next day."

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2017-18 International Fixtures:

Men's Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night)

Third Test Perth TBC, December 14-18

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test)

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14

Second ODI Gabba, January 19

Third ODI SCG, January 21

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21