Andrew Flintoff insisted he would get through the rest of the Ashes series after bowling England to their First Test win over Australia at Lord’s in 75 years. Flintoff, on the eve of this match, announced he would retire from the Test cricket at the end of the Ashes.
The injury-plagued all-rounder has most recently been troubled by a knee problem and when he started to suffer fresh discomfort at Lord’s, speculation began to grow that he might bow out of Tests completely at the “Home of Cricket”.
But as he came roaring in at top pace here on Monday, there was no sign of the fast bowler struggling for full fitness during an unbroken 10-over spell. He finished with five wickets for 92 runs as England won the Second Test by 115 runs to go 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The 31-year old Lancashire favorite was adamant that he was looking forward to the remainder of the series: “You hear what is been said and it is never my intention to bow at Lord’s. I want to be in an Ashes-winning team come the last test match at the Oval. To be on that podium at the last Test will be the perfect way for me to go,” said Flintoff, the star of England’s 2005 Ashes series win.