Fred's final fling

The retirement of Andrew Flintoff (MBE) after the current Ashes series is sure to ignite varying forms of debate over the next few weeks. Matters of opinion from the media pack may criticise the allrounder for the timing of his announcement, while other voices will no doubt pen glowing tributes to the talismanic Lancastrian. Flintoff will continue to make himself available for England's future ODI and Twenty20 squads. The carrot of future IPL contracts looming large may cast doubts for some over the motives behind his decision to leave the longer format of the game, but none can debate the match-winning contributions he has made for the English team over the years.

Charismatic, inspiring, down-to-earth are all compliments that spring to mind for a man whose appeal transcends class and cricketing opinion. Minor antics off the pitch have at times marred an underlying focus and dedication to the game that some have occasionally overlooked. Relentless pace and a fiery all-or-nothing attitude have been drawn from honing high levels of fitness which were doubted at the beginning of his career; many focussing on his heavy set frame. Such a build, whilst undoubtedly a major asset to his stinging bowling and power hitting, has also unfortunately been to his detriment.

The reoccurring knee injury sustained while playing in the IPL flared up again after this series' first Test and after multiple ankle surgeries, Flintoff has decided to call it a day. The relentless rigours of the five-day game have proven to be too much for his body to cope with, Flintoff having missed 25 of England's previous 48 Tests. Flintoff took his bow into international Test match cricket in 1998 against a strong touring South African side. Unfortunately the prized wicket of Jacques Kallis was his only real reward of note in that series and subsequently, his county form suffered.

There were always glimpses of his destructive capabilities during this uncertain period, most notably an explosive 135 from 111 balls in the quarter-finals of the Natwest Trophy in 2000. "We have just watched one of the most awesome innings we are ever going to see on a cricket field" gushed David Gower. A Man-of-the-Match 42 not out in a ODI against Zimbabwe followed, causing Flintoff to enthuse: "not bad for a fat lad!" High praise and high jinx indeed, but it wasn't until the England management packed him off to Rod Marsh's ECB academy in 2001 that he began to realise his huge potential.

That short, sharp, shock culminated in a reformed, more dynamic Flintoff who toured India that winter; proving his startling revelation as a tight, aggressive seam bowler. The relief of his coming of age was plain to see when he ripped off his shirt in celebration after the final ball of that tour, Flintoff having bowled an exceptional over to level the one day series. His Test career really started to take shape on the 2002 tour to New Zealand, where in Christchurch on his 13th Test appearance, Flintoff scored his first international century. 137 from 163 deliveries signified a concentration and temperament well suited to Test cricket.

By 2003, he had become a consistent performer in the Test arena. A magnificent 142 from 146 balls against South Africa, followed three Tests later by a match-swinging 95 to help England save the series cemented his position as an integral part of the English Test batting unit. An ability to force such a momentum change was testament to the fact he had become a player who could not just change the face of a one-dayer, but a player who could change the face of the modern English game forever.

Despite having become England's most consistent Test bowler by this stage, 5 for 58 versus the West Indies in Barbados 2004 (including the wickets of Brian Lara, Ridley Jacobs and Shivnarine Chanderpaul) was Flintoff's first major haul. He was named the Man of the Series later that year for his performances in the home white-wash of the same touring opponents. Again, the indications of his leading influence with both the bat and ball - 603 runs and 24 wickets - were being displayed and were acting simply as precursors for yet even greater things still to come.

2005 was his annus mirabilis largely due to his performances in the triumphant Ashes series of that year. It was the series in which he left an indelible mark on Test cricket not only for his contribution towards the series win, but for his contribution to the playing of the game: hard, but always fair. The iconic portrait of Flintoff consoling Brett Lee after victory at Edgbaston is a gesture of sportsmanship synonymous with the all-rounder, as well as an image etched into the consciousness of all cricket fans forever more. Being named ICC Cricketer of the Year was his reward for averages of 40.20 with the bat and 27.29 with the ball. His 402 runs and 24 wickets won Flintoff the Compton-Miller medal and inspire some to call it 'Fred's Ashes'.

Memories of that series will linger forever in the mind of the man who inspired England to victory in that series, as they will in the minds of a cricketing nation whose love affair with the shorter modes of the game are somewhat supplanting their affections for the truest form of the game. So Freddie 2009 - one last hurrah? Reignite those final embers and bring that urn home.