England's Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff has admitted the celebrity status he earned during the Ashes victory over Australia is wearing thin.
Flintoff, favourite to win the International Cricket Council's player of the year award at a ceremony in Sydney on Tuesday, said he was tired of the unrelenting attention from the media and the public.
"I would like to go back to not being recognised to be honest," the allrounder told reporters here this week, where he will play for an ICC World XI against Australia in a six-day Test beginning on Friday.
Flintoff said one of the downsides of his new-found fame was having photographers camped outside his house and being constantly recognised on the street.
"It's been quite a bizarre few weeks," he said. "I am looking forward to the day it dies down a bit. Maybe I'll have to start playing poorly, then nobody will be interested."
Flintoff said he was honoured to be considered for the ICC award but when asked about winning said: "I'm not holding my breath."
"All the England players have played a part in the team's success over the last two years and we have all done something to enhance the side," he said. "That is more important than personal awards."
Flintoff said he had been pleasantly surprised by the warm reception he had received in Australia less than a month after spearheading his team's first Ashes victory in 16 years against its cricketing nemesis. "All the feedback I have had in the street has been positive and the Australian public have been great," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Flintoff said he had been pleasantly surprised by the warm reception he had received in Australia less than a month after spearheading his team's first Ashes victory in 16 years against its cricketing nemesis. "All the feedback I have had in the street has been positive and the Australian public have been great," he said.
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