Andrew Flintoff Explained: England's Greatest Post-Botham All-Rounder, 2005 Ashes, and 4/23 at Edgbaston

Andrew Flintoff (Frederick Flintoff, born December 6, 1977, Preston, Lancashire) played 79 Test matches for England (2000-2009), scoring 3,845 runs at 31.77 average and taking 226 wickets at 32.78. He is the most celebrated all-rounder in England's post-Botham era — his 2005 Ashes performance is considered the most complete all-round series contribution by an England player since Botham's 1981 Ashes (though 1981 and 2005 produced different types of performances). Flintoff's cricket was defined by physical presence — large (6 foot 4, powerfully built), bowling at 140-147 km/h, and batting with aggressive power in the lower middle order.

2005 Ashes: Flintoff's Series

The 2005 Ashes series (England, July-September): Flintoff's match-by-match contribution: (1) 1st Test (Lord's, Australia won): Flintoff 0 runs, 1 wicket — a quiet start; (2) 2nd Test (Edgbaston): England won by 2 runs — the most dramatic Ashes Test of modern times. Flintoff scored 68 and 4; took 3/52 and 4/79. After England won on the final ball, Flintoff was photographed kneeling beside a defeated Brett Lee (who had given his team a near-win with the last-wicket partnership) — the image became one of sport's most celebrated sportsmanship moments; (3) 3rd Test (Old Trafford): Flintoff scored 46 not out (match-saving final innings for England), took 5 wickets. The match was drawn — England retained the Ashes at this point by not losing; (4) 4th Test (Trent Bridge, England won): Flintoff 102 and 8 not out, 2 wickets. His century sealed England's dominance; (5) 5th Test (The Oval, draw — England won the Ashes): Flintoff took 5 wickets. Series totals: 402 runs (average 40.2), 24 wickets (average 27.29).

The Edgbaston Consolation: Cricket's Most Famous Gesture

Edgbaston 2005, final ball of the match: Australia needed 3 runs from 1 ball to win. Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz (last wicket) had taken Australia from 175/9 to 279 — needing only 3 more. Simon Jones bowled. Kasprowicz gloved the ball to Steve Harmison in the gully — the umpire raised the finger. England won by 2 runs. Brett Lee sat on the pitch in exhausted disappointment — he had given everything in a last-wicket stand of 59 that almost pulled off the greatest Ashes upset in modern times. Flintoff immediately walked to Lee, knelt beside him, and put his hand on Lee's shoulder in a moment of genuine sportsmanship. The image — two competitors, one just won and the other just lost, in a human moment of mutual respect — was photographed by Matthew Impey (Getty) and became one of the most reproduced sporting photographs of the 2000s. The gesture was spontaneous and unrehearsed — Flintoff has said he felt the compassion for Lee naturally and acted on it. The photograph is now housed in the Lord's Cricket Museum collection.

2009 Ashes and IPL: Last Cricket Years

Flintoff's final cricket years: (1) 2009 Ashes (England, won by England 2-1): Flintoff was England's central bowler again — taking 5 wickets in the series including the crucial dismissal of Ricky Ponting in a defining spell at Lord's. He announced before the series that this would be his final Tests due to ankle injury. He played the full series — his final Test performance was heroic given the physical condition he was bowling through; (2) IPL 2009 (Chennai Super Kings): Flintoff contracted with CSK for IPL 2009 — one of cricket's most recognisable international names joining the early IPL seasons. He was paid approximately $1.55 million for the 6-week season — the highest franchise payment to any overseas player at the time. He bowled effectively in the tournament (pace-bowling all-rounder suited T20). CSK won the 2010 IPL (after Flintoff's departure); (3) Post-2009: Flintoff played county cricket for Lancashire and attempted T20 franchise appearances but ankle injuries prevented sustained cricket. He retired from all professional cricket in September 2010.