Lee recalls Ashes debacle, Flintoff's consoling hand

Sydney, Nov 13 (UNI) He has never seen the replay of Australia's heart-breaking Ashes loss at Edgbaston last summer but Brett Lee says the memories are fresh in his mind and he can still feel the hand of Andrew Flintoff, who 'surprisingly' came up to console the speedster, on his shoulders.

The pacer who was dejected after Australia lost the match, and thereafter the series, recalled the day he could have taken the Aussies to a memorable win but fell short by a few runs.

Lee said Flintoff's gesture made him a hero in his eyes and he admires the English skipper for his sportsmanship.

''(Flintoff said) something along the lines of, 'mate that was brilliant; thanks for such a great game'. And I said 'mate, thanks very much, I really appreciate that -- now go off and celebrate with your mates because you've really earned it','' he said recalling the brief exchange of words with Flintoff after the match.

''And since that we've been really good friends. I appreciate him as a cricketer and he's a really great person, the world's greatest bloke, but I was just so disappointed at the time that I couldn't speak,'' he added as he spoke about the loss in an interview to 'Sunday Times' The express bowler said it took some time for the World Champions to get over the shock of losing the famous urn.

''We had to deal with it, talk about it and get over it, but it definitely left a scar. We came out and won that first Test match at Lord's and we thought we were going to go out and dictate the next game as well. We definitely got caught off guard,'' he said.

Recalling his own agony at not being able to win the match for his side, Lee said he felt a sudden power cut in his legs and for some moments did not see or feel anything around him.

''It was like I'd been shot. The energy and adrenalin were sucked straight out of me and I felt so deflated and helpless, like I had let the country down. In the span of five seconds you think of a thousand things,'' he said.

''I felt really sad for Kasper after the way that he batted and so disappointed for the team. I was distraught,'' he added referring to Michael Kasprowicz who was batting with him.

The dashing bowler, who continues to work part-time for a menswear store, said he treats his customers pretty mush the same way as the batsmen he faces on the field.

''I love the challenge of making a sale and look at a customer in much the same way as I look at a batsman when I'm preparing to bowl.

You study him walking through the door, size him up and work on his weakness and try to take his wicket and make the sale,'' he said.

UNI XC PM AY ND1428