I was just 17 when I made my debut for Lancashire against Hampshire at Portsmouth. I got seven and a duck. I didn't get a wicket, either. Funnily enough, it was more nerve-wracking than playing for England. Andrew Flintoff More Quotes by Andrew Flintoff More Quotes From Andrew Flintoff When you bowl at him you are not just trying to get him out, you are trying to impress him. "I want him to walk off thinking 'that Flintoff, he's all right isn't he?" I feel privileged to have played against him. Andrew Flintoff want trying thinking That means I can drive a flock of sheep through the town centre, drink for free in no less than 64 pubs and get a lift home with the police when I become inebriated. What more could you want? Andrew Flintoff home sheep mean I'm ugly, I'm overweight, but I'm happy Andrew Flintoff overweight ugly Captaincy is something you get better at through experience. You've got to trust your instincts. Andrew Flintoff trust-your-instincts instinct get-better I'm not too good with packing. I always have every intention of doing it the week before and then leave it until the last moment - but at least I do it myself, I don't leave it to the missus. Andrew Flintoff week lasts moments A lot of the lads have a bat for the nets, a bat for facing the bowling machine and a separate bat for the match. I'll just crack on with a bat until it breaks - then crack on with another one. Andrew Flintoff bats machines cracks It's far more daunting than bowling to Ricky Ponting or facing Shane Warne Andrew Flintoff shane bowling I'm not really someone who looks forward to the gym. But I realise it's something that I have to do to perform well on the pitch. Andrew Flintoff realising wells looks We have to take care of our own game. There's only one place we've got to stick up for ourselves and that's the pitch. Andrew Flintoff care sticks games I like to think I'm calm. Sometimes I have arrived at the ground in the morning in a bad mood - you're not always going to be in the best of moods are you? - but by the time you get into the ground and you have a brew then it's normally fine. Andrew Flintoff bad-mood morning thinking It's usually the funny comments which are the better ones - and they are good for the game. Andrew Flintoff comment games There are times when I have felt the pressure, but at the moment I play cricket the only way I can. Andrew Flintoff pressure play way My family is not a distraction. They're the most important thing in my life. Andrew Flintoff distraction my-family important There are of course mornings when you wouldn't mind a lie in. Andrew Flintoff mind morning lying I'm comfortable in the way I play and comfortable in who I am. Andrew Flintoff who-i-am play way I can lose my temper from time to time, but I try not to lose it on the pitch because it can't help. Andrew Flintoff temper helping trying If you're batting and you go off on one it can't really help you. Andrew Flintoff batting ifs helping Whatever was written in the media was beyond me. The only thing I could control was getting fit. Andrew Flintoff get-fit fit media I'll take my iPod - though I'm not very good with gadgets to be honest - and that has everything I like. Andrew Flintoff ipods gadgets honest I have a varied taste, I'll listen to anything. Well, not anything, no techno. Andrew Flintoff techno wells taste
