No differences with Fletcher, selection not an issue: Flintoff

Sydney, Dec 11: An agitated Andrew Flintoff has rubbished reports of differences with Duncan Fletcher on selection, asserting that he has a ''good relationship'' with the England coach, who should not be ''singled out'' for the team's poor performance in the Ashes so far.

''Selection wasn't an issue for four days at Adelaide and wasn't the reason we lost. It seems some people must have somebody or something to blame. Things go wrong on the cricket field, as they do in life,'' Flintoff said in an interview to the 'News of the World'.

''It's unfair to have a go at certain people. We are all in this together and aiming for the same thing. It's unfortunate that some people are singled out and we've got into selection issues,'' he added as he hit back at the critics of the team, which is down 0-2 in the Ashes.

The England skipper, however, admitted to having a huge influence in the selection of the team but made it clear that he has never tried to undermine the points put across by others in the panel.

''Of course, selection meetings are all about discussion and different points of view, but whatever side goes out there has the full support of everyone. Duncan Fletcher and I have a good relationship,'' he said.

''I have a big say in selecting the team. It seems daft to have to say it but we always pick a side to win. Why would you try to do anything else?'' he added.

Reduced to tears following the heart-breaking loss in the Adelaide Test, Flintoff said he has never experienced the pain that he felt after the defeat, which was nothing short of a shock as England looked well on course for a draw at the end of the fourth day's play.

''I was so upset. I have never experienced such a sense of loss after a cricket match and I hope I never feel that bad ever again,'' he recalled.

''I wasn't boo-hooing or anything like that -- but the tears were there. We've taken huge stick and I can't argue with that but don't accuse this England team of not caring. That upsets me even more. I give everything when I am on the cricket field and always have done,'' he added, rejecting criticism that the defending champions were not concerned about the poor show so far.

''I was in shock for hours after the game. It wasn't until I woke up the next morning that the real horror began to sink in. When I woke up, my first thought was that it had all been a bad dream,'' he further said. The talismanic all-rounder, who was the architect of England's Ashes triumph last summer, also rejected suggestions that he was under more pressure after being named the captain in the absence of an injured Michael Vaughan, and said he enjoyed the responsibility.

''I don't find the captaincy a burden. These days when I get out, apparently the reason is the weight of the captaincy. But consider this. From one end you've got Brett Lee bowling 90mph-plus and at the other end, the greatest bowler in Test history, Shane Warne, is turning it out of the rough on a last-day wicket,'' he said.

''Do you imagine I've got anything else on my mind? Seriously think there's anything else rattling round in my brain other than trying very hard to lay a bat on the ball!'' he added.

The lanky player said he could understand the disappointment of England fans and does not mind being criticised by the man on the street for the team's performance in the tour so far.

''Does it hurt more because I am captain? No, it was the same for everyone. It was universal suffering. Of course England cricket supporters are upset. I don't blame them. They went to bed and slept soundly on Tuesday night in the UK, confident that England had drawn the Test.

''In the morning, they hear that we have lost and must have thought 'How the hell did they lose that?'' he said.

The skipper was also not impressed with the criticism of the bonhomie between England and Australia off the field and said the relationship among the players away from cricket was nobody's business and what mattered was the performance on the field.

''I can't see why people would query that. We did exactly the same at the Oval last year when we took the Ashes away from them.

It's not about sharing a drink only when it's your day. When you are in the opposition dressing-room, one set of players is usually happier than the other,'' he said.

Flintoff, who turned 30 on the day after the loss on December 6, said the wishes and cards that he got on his birthday made the defeat all the more heart-breaking.

''That's when it hit home that one hour of batting had cost us a Test match after four very good days. We had to come to terms with the fact that we were heading for Perth 2-0 down,'' he said.

''That morning I was surrounded by birthday cards and presents and my family but there was no way to shake off what happened. I have never experienced a day like it,'' he explained.

UNI