Freddie: Aussies are the favourites
Flintoff will stay batting at number three
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Friday, 20, Oct 2006 10:12
Andrew Flintoff insists arch-rivals Australia will be the favourites in Saturday's mouth-watering match in the Champions Trophy in Jaipur.
The two sides clash in a crucial group game with the losing team facing a humiliating exit from the competition.
England were defeated by hosts India last Sunday while Ricky Ponting's side suffered a shock loss to the West Indies on Wednesday.
Flintoff, who made a duck in the defeat to India, said he was full of respect for the Aussies.
"Australia are a fine side and remain favourites going into it," he said.
"But both sides have lost first and I don't think they'll be. We'll try and take Australia on and see what happens."
Skipper Flintoff added that his side would have to match the performance when they overcame the Aussies in the semi-finals of the 2004 Champions Trophy.
"We almost played the perfect game to beat Australia that day. On Saturday, we will have to play exceptional cricket again," he said.
The match is just over a month away from the first Ashes Test in Brisbane with both sides looking to get the psychological edge.
Aussie captain Ponting said his side will be aiming to send Flintoff back to the pavilion early.
"England's thinking will be - the longer he [Flintoff] can bat, the better it will be for them," he said.
"Our feeling is that if we can get a crack at him early with the new ball and get him out then it might leave them a bit thin with their power hitters down the end of their innings, which is where he can do a lot of damage."
"He has been a middle to lower order batsman for most of his career. I guess he hasn't faced a lot of the new white ball and as we have seen it has swung around quite a bit here."
The last big match between the bitter rivals in India ended in victory for the Aussies in the 1987 World Cup final.