The world is his oyster

Andrew Flintoff: one of the great personalities of the modern game © Getty Images

Video - The Flintoff story (Windows Media Player - 2m 45s)
A gargantuan performer with a big heart and bigger shoulders, Andrew Flintoff has established himself as one of the great personalities of the modern game. He is both a fearless striker of a cricket ball whose every innings makes for compelling viewing, as well as a galumphing pounding paceman who regularly exceeds 90mph and jars bat-handles with a high, powerful action and a visibly "heavy" ball. In addition, he is one of the world's most reliable slip fielders, and a tactically astute captain who leads by example and inspires all who follow him down the pavilion steps.

Achievements
Against Australia in the summer of 2005, Flintoff finally came of age with a series-long performance that earned him global fame and recognition, and the eternal gratitude of his nation. In his first appearance against the Aussies, but at the peak of his powers and fitness, he cracked 402 runs in five Tests, and blasted his way to 24 priceless wickets, as England recaptured the Ashes after 18 fruitless years. He was subsequently named as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year - the first cricketer to earn the accolade since Ian Botham in his own annus mirablis of 1981.

What makes him special
In Flintoff , England have found the answer to all their prayers - a man who, like the irrepressible Botham before him, is a genuine allrounder, worthy of a place in the nation team on the strength of his batting or bowling alone. In addition, Flintoff is the consummate team man, a player who inspires his colleagues and intimidates opponents in equal measure. And, what is more, he is a man of the people as well, as he demonstrated with his heroically slurred speech in Trafalgar Square on the morning after the Ashes triumph. Accessible, yet untouchable - that's Flintoff through and through.

© Getty Images

Finest hour
It's hard to look beyond the Ashes, especially the second Test at Edgbaston. Flintoff's twin scores of 68 and 73 first set England up for a shot at victory, and then, on the penultimate afternoon, a bullish first over produced two vital wickets at a moment when the match seemed to be slipping away. He followed up with a matchwinning hundred at Trent Bridge in the fourth Test, a masterclass in self-denial and certainty, while his five-wicket haul in the Oval decider was instrumental in breaking Australia's resolve. From a personal point of view, however, Flintoff would probably single out England's astonishing victory at Mumbai in March 2006, his first win as captain, when he inspired a team of rookies to excel themselves in an alien environment.

Achilles' Heel
Not so much an Achilles' Heel as an Achilles' Ankle. A bone spur in Flintoff's left foot has been a constant source of aggravation in recent years, and he has twice undergone operations to rectify the problem. Before the foot, his main problem was his back, which at times threatened to scupper his prospects of ever bowling again. In his younger days, Flintoff was his own worst enemy, with a penchant for a party and a reluctance to do his back-strengthening Pilates exercises. But a stern talking-to from his management team transformed his attitude, and under the tutelage of Duncan Fletcher, he has become one of the fittest athletes in the game.

In this age of the celebrity, the world is Flintoff's oyster

How history views him
It's too soon to judge Flintoff's place in the pantheon although, by common consent, the 2005 Ashes is already considered to be among the greatest sporting encounters of all time, and so he is guaranteed a hefty mention in a sizeable chapter. Much depends on how Flintoff follows that tour de force. Injury scuppered his 2006 season, but a repeat performance in Australia this winter will confirm that he saves his very best for when it matters most. And that is the mark of a true champion.

Life after cricket
In this age of the celebrity, the world is Flintoff's oyster. Like Botham before him, he is guaranteed recognition long after his on-field feats have faded from memory, and the likely route is a lucrative career in television. He is a committed family man, however, with a wife and two young children, and has often spoken of his discomfort in the limelight. It could well be that he opts to return to a quieter life. With the freedom of the city of Preston among the rewards for his achievements, he will never again have to buy a pint.