Indian Premier League - IPL / Ralph Ellis / 03 April 2009 / Leave a comment

As Andrew Flintoff confirms he will be going to South Africa to play in the money-spinning IPL, Ralph Ellis hopes that it is indeed to improve his fitness ahead of the Ashes rather than for a big payday.

Older players have different rules when it comes to their fitness. Ledley King spends the week swimming before making Man of the Match appearances for Spurs. Gary Speed made record breaking numbers of Premier League appearances thanks to yoga classes.

So maybe we should hesitate before condemning Andrew Flintoff for grabbing the money on offer from the Indian Premier League in the next few weeks. On the face of it he's putting his fitness for the Ashes this summer in danger. After a gruelling season England's talismanic all rounder surely needs a few weeks off to get him in shape to take on the Aussies.

Not so, says Freddie in today's Sun.He reckons a couple of weeks in South Africa will actually be right for his body.

"My record shows if I have a break, I'm most vulnerable when I come back," he claims. "And bowling wise, the short, sharp bursts in Twenty20 will do me good.

"Brett Lee, another fast bowler coming back from injury, has said the same and he'll be a key man for the Aussies this summer. Test cricket is still the ultimate. I want to experience the high of winning the Ashes again and definitely not the whitewash of 2006-7.

"I'd be lying if I said the money in the IPL wasn't appealing, but from a playing prospective the standard looks excellent. For me it's a perfect start to the summer, with some short but high class warm weather cricket."

That's a bold boast, and one that will put Freddie under pressure to perform not only when the Ashes start but in the IPL too. His team, Chennai Super Kings, look like one of the top sides this year - and having Flintoff firing for a couple of weeks could make them genuine contenders.

Chennai are joint favourites in the early IPL market at [5.3] along with Delhi Daredevils - and that could be worth a punt now before the market settles down and their price shortens with an early win. They play Mumbai in their first fixture on April 18 and are favourites to make a good start. Last year's winners the Rajhastan Royals are less fancied than their big-spending rivals and trade at [7.8].

I still worry that Flintoff is kidding himself he's playing in the IPL for cricketing reasons rather than to take the money and run. If I'm wrong England could still be a good bet to win the Ashes at [3.5]. If I'm not, then with a worn out Flintoff they've no chance.

Five things you might not know about the Chennai Super Kings

1. Australians Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey are their other big overseas stars

2. They are owned by the local cement making company India Cements, who paid 91 million dollars to buy the franchise.

3. Coach Stephen Fleming scored 49 fifties in One Day International Cricket

4. The Kings went through a ten-week trial to find local boys and girls to be cheerleaders - but then couldn't take them to South Africa

5. They had to sack Bollywood actress Nayantara as brand ambassador as she signed her contract - then revealed she wouldn't be available for appearances at matches.