"The young guys have settled well and the spirit within the team is very high for this tough series," said the allrounder, named International Cricket Council joint Player of the Year last month with South African Jacques Kallis.

Flintoff and pace bowler Steve Harmison joined the rest of the England squad in Islamabad early Thursday before they left for Lahore, where the team plays its second tour match against Pakistan 'A' from Sunday.

They were allowed to take a week off after they featured in the Super Series for the Rest of World XI against Australia last month. The pair also featured in a charity campaign for Pakistan quake victims last week in Dubai.

"It's nice to be in Pakistan and I am eager to return to the cricket field," Flintoff -- known to England fans as "Freddie" because of his surname's similarity to that of cartoon character Fred Flintstone -- told reporters.

Flintoff, currently regarded as the world's best allrounder, played a pivotal role in England's 2-1 Ashes win over Australia two months ago, scoring 402 runs and grabbing 24 wickets.

Harmison, who toured Pakistan with the England Under-19 team in 1997, took 17 wickets in England's first win in the Ashes for 18 years and is likely to spearhead the attack in the forthcoming series.

England will welcome them back after the team snatched a 52-run win from the jaws of defeat in their three-day tour opener against Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's XI at Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

England play three Tests and five one-day matches on their tour of Pakistan. The first Test starts at Multan on November 12.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)