But there is no danger of my not concentrating on cricket. I'm comfortable on the pitch, and that will never change. I have to remember what I do for a living

There are of course mornings when you wouldn't mind a lie in.

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.

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.

I'm completely different from Pietersen. He would turn up to the opening of an envelope

I have a varied taste, I'll listen to anything. Well, not anything, no techno.

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.