Flintoff: Angry with Old Trafford axe

We need to get Test cricket back here (Old Trafford) as soon as we can. We need to make this a venue that can't be turned down.

Andrew Flintoff
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Andrew Flintoff admits he would love to be able to take part in one more Ashes Test at Old Trafford before his career draws to an end.

The home of Lancashire CCC will not host an Ashes Test in 2009 after the England and Wales Cricket Board chose to hand an inaugural Test to Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium instead.

The decision has prompted Lancashire to draw up plans for a £70million refurbishment of their home of the last 151 years, which is aimed at bringing Test match cricket back to Manchester, in particular for an Ashes Test in 2013.

And Flintoff, 30, hopes to extend his international career long enough to be able to play for England once Old Trafford has its new look, although he recognises that is a lot to ask.

"I don't know but I would love to," he said today. "Over the past few years it has been tough with all the injuries.

"It would be nice to, but I have just got to concentrate on getting through this year first, then the next one and the next one."

Capacity increase

Flintoff and his Lancashire and England team-mate James Anderson unveiled two photographs of what the ground is due to look like after its redevelopment at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The proposed changes will include two new grandstands, a redesigned pavilion, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, permanent floodlights and a new hotel. The capacity will increase from 15,000 to 25,000 for international matches.

The Red Rose county will begin work on turning the current square around by 90 degrees at the end of the 2009 season.

New media facilities and dressing room will be behind the bowler's arm, opposite the pavilion as it sits today.

"It looks lovely," assessed Flintoff. "One of the big things for me is keeping the pavilion.

"You don't quite know what will happen but it looks a great building and one we have been looking forward to for a long time.

"You go to some grounds around the world and they don't have any character, they are like football grounds.

Disappointing

"But this seems to have kept some of the old traditions along with bringing in some pretty radical buildings as well. I think it will look great.

"We need to get Test cricket back here as soon as we can. We need to make this a venue that can't be turned down. Once you get all that up it will be impossible not to have games here.

"Looking at the pictures you can't imagine not having anything here. "I know it is only a picture but it does look great."

Flintoff went on to reveal his anguish at the ECB's decision not to award his home ground next summer's Ashes Test.

"It's huge (to play for England at your home ground). To be missing out on the Ashes next year was obviously disappointing for the club, the supporters, myself and probably Jimmy as well," he said.

"Especially when you look at the last one with 20,000 people locked out at the gates."

And when asked whether it looked better than Cardiff's SWALEC Stadium he chuckled: "On first impressions you would have to say so wouldn't you?"