RODNEY BAY, St Lucia (Reuters) — England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff said yesterday there would never be a repeat of the late-night drinking binge which led to him being stripped of the World Cup vice-captaincy.The 29-year-old was one of six players fined for a breach of team discipline following Friday’s six-wicket defeat by Group C rivals New Zealand.

He was suspended for Sunday’s victory over Canada which leaves England needing another win over Kenya to qualify for the Super Eights stage.

After leaving a nightclub close to the team’s St Lucia hotel, Flintoff got into a pedalo on the water in the early hours and later needed to be rescued after falling off it, according to British media reports.

“There’s no secret we had a few drinks on Friday. It’s been documented in the press what happened afterwards with a little bit of poetic licence,” a downbeat Flintoff told reporters at the hotel.

“There was water involved and a pedalo as well. But I don’t want to go into detail. I don’t think my life was in danger.

“It’s something that I’m not proud of and something which shouldn’t have happened. Being left out for these reasons is something I’m upset about and I never want to happen again.”

More revelations about Friday’s antics appeared in British newspapers yesterday, with some witnesses saying the players were so drunk in the nightclub they were kissing each other.

James Anderson, Jon Lewis, Ian Bell, Paul Nixon and Liam Plunkett were the other players fined.

Coaches Kevin Shine and Jeremy Snape, who was only drafted into England’s backroom staff at the start of the month, were also involved in the drinking session but have not been fined. Head coach Duncan Fletcher said they should have stepped in to stop the partying.