All hell broke loose: for a week calls for Atherton’s resignation raged He rode the storm, but his honeymoon was over. England eventually recovered to draw the series through Devon Malcolm’s 9 for 57.. Two singular performances from Andrew Flintoff’s burgeoning international career continue to dance across the mind’s eye. The first was at the National Stadium, Karachi, in October 2000, when England were in the cart and he emerged before 80,000 baying Pakistan supporters and smote their finest to all parts. When he came in, the fans were setting off firecrackers to celebrate victory; when he departed with the side requiring only two runs after his unfettered 84 from 60 balls, they were lighting funeral pyres. Nasser Hussain, England’s captain, said later that it was a jolly good innings but that Flintoff still had much to learn. He was right, of course, but it still seemed an inadequate appraisal of what had just been witnessed This boy could play on a big stage.

This boy could play on a big stage.
The second abiding image is of Flintoff at Wankhede Stadium, Bombay, 15 months later, before another impassioned subcontinental crowd willing victory for their team. Flintoff had been entrusted with the final over in an unfeasibly tight finish. He bowled beautifully, and with his fifth delivery castled Javagal Srinath. In a paroxysm of delight, Flintoff tore off his No 11 shirt and cavorted around the arena, waving it above his head He could have been at a karaoke night back home.

This boy loved playing.”The one thing lasts for playing quite well, the other for acting like a berk,” said Flintoff last week This is typical of the man There is no attempt to evade, or obfuscate, or make excuses. After five years of international cricket, in which he has sometimes underachieved and occasionally had his human frailties exposed, there is still no edge to him.He was at Blackpool last week, where his county, Lancashire, were playing Kent, and eyes and autograph hunters followed him wherever he went. He is entering that stage when he might go beyond being a mere cricketer, but he shows no indication of having changed He claims hardly to notice the attention. He is genial and gentle, approachable, eager to please and still sometimes a daft lad from Preston.