Andrew Flintoff emerged from a cricket-mad family in Preston to become one of the biggest crowd-pleasers and most feared all-rounder of his generation during an action-packed international career.
He spent his formative years watching Dad Colin play cricket at weekends and it was not long before Andrew and his brother Chris were following in their father’s footsteps and forging their reputations in Lancashire league cricket.
Young Andrew quickly became known as a big-hitter – he once scored an unbeaten 234 in a 20-over game for St Anne’s – and was signed by Lancashire as a teenager by then coach David Lloyd, who became a massive influence on his career.
He became known as “Freddie” within the Lancashire ranks, a nickname which stuck throughout his career, and his reputation grew within the county game to such an extent he made his Test debut aged just 20 against South Africa in 1998.
Lloyd, who was now England coach, had enough faith in the young all-rounder he included him in the 1999 World Cup squad on home soil, a campaign which ended in bitter disappointment when the hosts crashed out of the tournament at the first stage.
Flintoff struggled to establish himself at international level during the next few years with injuries interrupting his progress, but he made a breakthrough in the winter of 2001-2 when he helped England draw the one-day series in India and then claimed his maiden Test century against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Despite a difficult relationship with England coach Duncan Fletcher, he was given great credit for knuckling down and sorting out fitness issues and between 2003 and 2005 produced his most memorable and consistent performances on the international stage.
He won man-of-the-series award after scoring a century and three 50s in the drawn Test series against South Africa in 2003, excelled during the tour to West Indies that winter with five wickets in Barbados and a century in Antigua.
By now Flintoff was becoming one of the most charismatic figures in the game with bars emptying when he batted while the crowds always roared their approval whenever he ran in to bowl.
That popularity was further enhanced the following summer during the Test against West Indies at Edgbaston when he hit a six into the crowd only for his Dad Colin to drop the ball attempting a catch in the stand.
His consistent form continued into the following year, when he became a key part of the England side which regained the Ashes for the first time since 1986-7, when he was again awarded the man-of-the-series award.
The celebrations after that achievement became legendary with Flintoff staying up all night before attending an open-top bus tour of London, visiting Downing Street and attempting a rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Suspicious Minds” on the steps of Trafalgar Square.
His performances that summer earned him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award that year while the whole team were named in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour list when he was awarded an MBE.
Injuries to captain Michael Vaughan that winter prompted England to appoint Flintoff as temporary captain that winter and he showed early promise by guiding them to a memorable victory in Mumbai to level the Test series in India.
Ankle problems curtailed his summer but he recovered sufficiently to lead England to Australia, where they suffered a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash although they bounced back to win the one-day triangular series under his leadership.
Further injuries restricted his performances for the next couple of years and a late night drinking escapade with a pedalo during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean ensured he remained in the headlines with England stripping him of the vice-captaincy.
But it was the toll of further injuries and yet another knee operation in the early stages of 2009 which convinced him to take a long look at his career and he made the decision to retire from Test cricket at the end of that summer’s Ashes series.
He still had enough determination to deliver one of the most memorable bowling displays in recent years to help England win a rare Ashes Test at Lord’s and he bowed out with victory at the Oval, celebrating in more sober fashion this time with his wife Rachael and kids Holly, Corey and Rocky.
Another knee operation shortly after the final Test of 2009 sidelined him for the best part of a year, but he is hopeful of returning soon to playing cricket for Lancashire before the end of the summer.
Despite his long spell on the sidelines, it has not affected his popularity and he has used his time off to promote his charity, the AF Foundation, which raises funds to develop and improve the standards of child rehabilitation throughout the UK.
He also featured as one of the captains in Sky’s successful sports-comedy show “A League of their own", and has since moved with his family to Dubai, where he has been appointed an ambassador with a responsibility for promoting its suitability as a sports venue and tourist destination.