30 November,2010 08:38 AM IST | | Rohan Koli
Flintoff reckons huge expectations can cost favourites India the World Cup Andrew Flintoff offering bowling tips to a youngster at Police Gymkhana yesterday. PIC/Shadab Khan
Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff reckons India are the favourites to win the 2011 World Cup, but the high expectations of the fans could work against Mahendra Singh Dhoni's rampant outfit. The 32-year-old was in the city yesterday to share a few bowling tips with emerging pacemen at a coaching clinic.
MiD DAY caught up with England's former Ashes hero for a one-on-one chat.u00a0
Excerpts:
On the 2011 World Cup:
The teams from sub-continent have an edge, especially India because they have performed so brilliantly on home soil over the last year. The only disadvantage I see is that it is difficult to handle pressure from the home crowd. Indian fans expect their team to win at any cost, at all times. That could work against India.
On Sachin Tendulkar:
I remember coming to play for Lancashire under-13s and he was making his Test debut at the time. He is only four years older than me, but he is still playing! There is a lot of cricket left in him.
He can carry on for many more years. The last time I came to India for a Test series, he played the knock of his life in my opinion ufffd in Chennai in 2008-09.
On Harbhajan Singh, 'the all-rounder':
He will be confident about scoring more runs after his two hundreds. It could also work against him because it could start to affect his bowling.
On the 2010-11 Ashes:
It was brave of England to come back after being 260 all out (in the Brisbane Test). It takes a lot of commitment. I think this is the best English team that can beat Australia in Australia. However, this is surely not Australia's strongest team playing in the last two decades.
On his career-ending injury:
I am not someone who would say I am not missing playing in the Ashes. I still have four or five years of cricket left in me, I desperately want to play but injury has forced me out of the game.
On playing IPL-4:
After retirement from Test cricket I was expecting to play in ODIs and T20s, but my body doesn't allow me to play anything now.
I am not yet sure about playing in IPL-4. It is the best domestic tournament in the world and I don't want to miss it.
