Pressure brings out the best in me: Flintoff

New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Being pitted against hosts India and World Champions Australia in the tough Pool A of the Champions Trophy hardly intimidates England captain Andrew Flintoff and coach Duncan Fletcher, who today admitted to being under pressure for performing well after a less-than-impressive ODI summer.

Addressing the media in a post-arrival conference here, Flintoff refused to rate any particular side as favourite to win the Champions Trophy but admitted that World Champions Australia, hosts India and their recent rivals in the NatWest ODI series Pakistan were the teams to beat in the month-long tournament.

''I am sure India are up with a good chance. They have fine players in the team. People here want them to perform really well,'' said Flintoff, addressing the media here.

''Pakistan is a fine side and I guess, Australia are good too.

But We are going to concentrate on our side and play according to our plan,'' he said and added, ''Thats about them. We believe we can beat anybody in the competition. Me and my team like to perform well against any opponent.'' England, who play India on October 15 in Jaipur, however, made no secret that the Ashes top their priority list and both the captain and coach -- Messers Flintoff and Fletcher -- said the ongoing one-day tournament would be an opportunity for them to judge their fitness levels ahead of playing the epic Test series Down Under.

England coach Duncan Fletcher took great pain to emphasise that his team was here in India to win and set its one-day record right but couldn't resist adding that the experience would help in their quest to retain the urn.

''The Champions Trophy gives us an opportunity to test ourselves and perhaps we can take the positives from here to the next situation which is the Ashes,'' the coach said.

Skipper Andrew Flintoff, who's returning from an injury lay-off echoed his coach's view even as he underlined the team was taking the Champions Trophy seriously.

''People only talk about the Ashes but we are concentrating on the one-dayers right now. Our team is under pressure to perform well after a tough one-day summer,'' he said but added the footnote: ''Besides, this event also gives opportunity to test our fitness.'' The skipper denied that the team was under any pressure and said they were looking forward to perform in the tournament.

''The pressure is always there. We had a difficult summer as far as ODIs are concerned,'' he said and added, ''But pressure brings out the best in me.'' England arrive in the tournament appearing full-strength on paper but with less-than-impressive one-day record. The Ashes winners barely drew against Pakistan 2-2 in the one-day series after they were whitewashed 0-5 by Sri Lanka at home.

However with skipper Flintoff, paceman Steve Harmison and spinner Ashley Giles returning from injury, the coach believes they have got the balance right.

''Our side is pretty well balanced. The bowling is well covered except for some inexperience. We have the right mix of pacers and spinners,'' he added.

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