That Brett Lee and Andrew Flintoff are buddies off the field is no secret and the Aussie speedster has further strengthened the bond by naming his son after the English skipper's birthplace, albeit unknowingly.
Preston is the hometown of Flintoff and also the name of Lee's newborn son. The Aussie pace spearhead said he was unaware of the fact and came to know of the coincidence only five days after naming the child.
Writing in his column for the Times, the tearaway pacer said Flintoff had congratulated him on becoming father and had pointed out the interesting aspect to him.
"Made a short trip to the ground this morning (November 21). As I was walking back to the changing rooms, Flintoff was coming down the steps. 'Congratulations on the birth of your son, mate,' he says," Lee wrote, recalling the brief interaction with the England skipper.
"Thanks, Freddie," he replied to Flintoff's gesture. "Nice of you to name him after my birthplace," came the response from Freddie to which lee said, "well, I know you're not going to believe this. But I only found out yesterday (Saturday) that Preston is where you were born." but on-field, the bonhomie between the two goes for a six as Lee recalled the duo's face-off in the first Test at Brisbane.
Lee said it was in the first innings that he came out to bat to face a hostile spell from Stephen Harmison and saw Flintoff enjoying every moment of it.
"Andrew Flintoff at mid-off, but it goes through his legs. I run two. My adrenaline is soaring. It feels like the quickest two I've ever run. I'm elated to get off the mark. Freddie looks at me with a smirk on his face.
He's thinking: 'you lucky bugger, lee'," he said. "The world spins faster standing at the crease. I'm facing Freddie now. He's serving chin music. I swivel away and duck to avoid getting hit...I stumble and watch it in the Air. I'm gone, I think. But it just clears the slips. Another break! somebody up there loves me but not Freddie.
He's glaring at me. 'Jesus!' he spits. 'you've obviously perfected that shot," he added.