Heroic Flintoff inspired 2005 Ashes triumph

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - Throughout the course of the glorious summer of 2005 Andrew Flintoff combined abundant talent, a strapping physique and whole-hearted exuberance to become the all-rounder England had craved for so long.

Flintoff dominated the Ashes series to such an extent that even the incomparable Shane Warne at his transcendent best could not prevent England reclaiming the Ashes after 16 bleak years.

Four years later after four ankle operations and a variety of shoulder, hip and knee injuries Flintoff has bowed to the inevitable and announced his retirement from test cricket after the current Ashes series to concentrate on the one-day game.

Charging in with new or old ball, Flintoff was invariably hostile in 2005 and consistently confounded the Australian batsmen with late reverse swing.

To add to his 27 wickets, Flintoff batted with maturity and authority to score 402 runs at an average of 40.20. For that series, at least, he was a member of that exalted company of all-rounders who could command a test place as either batsman or bowler.

Success, though, came at a high price. Flintoff, overweight and under-motivated at the start of his test career, had trained himself to a peak and developed into a fine professional athlete.

But the frightening pace he generated, depending on strenuous physical endeavour rather than rhythm, took a literally crippling toll.

Flintoff, 31, came of age in the English summer of 2003, when, by coincidence, Michael Vaughan took over as England captain.