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.

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

It's usually the funny comments which are the better ones - and they are good for the game.

I've read a lot of Irvine Welsh - Trainspotting, Glue - he's written some beauties.

I'm ugly, I'm overweight, but I'm happy

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.

Personally I prefer to work things out by feel, by instinct.