Flintoff grateful for second crack at Aussies

Andrew Flintoff, who has played a leading role in the ongoing Ashes series, said he will be "like a kid in a sweet shop" when he arrives in Australia to play in the Super Series.

The England all-rounder was yesterday named in the ICC World XI squads for the six-day Test against Australia in Sydney from October 14-19, and the three one-day matches against the world champions at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on October 5, 7 and 9.

Flintoff will be joined in the Test squad by close friend and England fast bowler Stephen Harmison, while batsman Kevin Pietersen's remarkable start to his international career sees him included in the one-day party.

Flintoff, speaking ahead of the fourth Test against Australia which starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday with the five-match series all square at 1-1, said: "At the end of this summer it's going to be great going to Australia and sharing a dressing room with some of the best players in the world.

Flintoff, who broke into the world's top 10 bowlers for the first time last week, added: "I might even get the chance to bat with Sachin Tendulkar, which would be fantastic."

"I'm going to be like a kid in a sweet shop. I'll be taking my autograph book and I won't quite know where to put myself."

"It's great when I think back two years because I was still trying to play for England never mind even being thought about for a World XI side" said Flintoff, whose colleagues in the star-studded team will include Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, whom he played with at Lancashire.

"It's very flattering to be included and I've got the chance to mix with some of the best players in the world.

"When Australia play against the world side they'll be up for it trying to show everybody how good they are and I'm sure the World XI will be the same - they'll want to beat Australia."

The World XI Test side will be captained by South Africa's Graeme Smith after England skipper Michael Vaughan, who was in the running to be in the team, was ultimately overlooked by a selection panel chaired by former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar.

Smith's South Africa team-mate Shaun Pollock will lead the one-day team.