LEE KEEN TO FACE FLINTOFF AGAIN
Brett versus Andrew



Ashes hero Andrew Flintoff's performances this past summer will be remembered for decades to come, but it is the endearing image of him consoling Brett Lee at Edgbaston which Australia will not forget.

Not least Lee himself, who has had the photograph of England's all-rounder paying respect as others erupted in joy at the dismissal of Michael Kasprowicz, which confirmed a cruel two-run second-Test defeat, enlarged for his living room wall.

Flintoff, 27, did not feature in the ICC World XI's 12-run victory over Victoria at Junction Oval yesterday but he was greeted affectionately by a 10,000 crowd whenever he wheeled on the drinks trolley in his role as 14th man.

Such a reception is indicative perhaps of what he can expect in front of six times as many spectators on Wednesday when the Super Series' first of three one-day internationals gets under way.

Australians love sporting champions and Lee will cherish his memento from the 2005 tour like any fan would.

"I have had that picture of Andrew and myself, when he has got his arm around me, blown up," said Lee. "He asked if I could sign one for him and I said I would as long as we signed them for each other.

"It is going to go up in pride of place on my wall at home, I just need to get it framed next time I get a chance.

"Andrew wrote 'is there any chance of you getting out?' and 'it is always a pleasure and a thrill to play against you'.

"My message to him was 'you are a supreme athlete, it's always been a pleasure and I have really enjoyed these five matches'.

"That picture has got so much coverage here and when people come up to me in the street they always revert back to it.

"After that last wicket at Edgbaston, Freddie could have been hugging his mates after they had won such a close game but he chose to come over and put his arm around me, which will definitely go down as one of history's greatest acts of sportsmanship."

There promises to be some more thrilling exchanges between the pair in the next fortnight with Flintoff - who is nursing a sore shoulder after being struck in practice by Shoaib Akhtar - expected to be the fulcrum of both Test and one-day sides aiming to further disrupt the world number one Australians.

"They will really accept Andrew over here, people have been coming up saying 'that was the most amazing series, what's Flintoff like?"' added Lee.

"He is a super hero here already, even people who don't watch cricket know about him and they always say how much of a sportsman he is.

"Awesome is too soft a word for Flintoff, he is an amazing player and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.
"You make some great mates playing cricket and I hope we have encouraged more kids to play the game.

"I know participation levels have gone up massively in England and here kids are doing the Freddie Flintoff wicket celebrations and having Kevin Pietersen haircuts."

Pietersen, whose astonishing counter-attacking hundred at the Oval sealed the Ashes success, made just five in his first outing since.