Andrew Flintoff factfile

ANDREW FLINTOFF FACTFILE

1977: Born Preston, December 6.

1995: Makes Lancashire debut.

1998: Makes Test debut against South Africa at Trent Bridge and awarded county cap.

1999: Scores 50 on one-day international debut against Pakistan at Sharjah; Returns to England side on tour of South Africa but breaks a foot in fourth Test at Cape Town.

2000: Hits 84 in just 60 balls as England begin their tour of Pakistan with victory in opening one-day international at Karachi.

2001: Flies out to rejoin England squad in Sri Lanka for one-day internationals after injury but does not feature against Pakistan or Australia over the summer; Recalled to one-day side for short tour of Zimbabwe.

2002: Scores maiden Test century against New Zealand with 137 off 163 balls in a 281-run partnership with Graham Thorpe in first Test at Christchurch.

2003: Features in World Cup after injury-curtailed Ashes tour and scores first Test century in England against South Africa at Lord's and a brilliant 95 off 104 balls to level series at The Oval.

2004: April - Takes maiden Test five-wicket haul in third Test against West Indies in Barbados and hits unbeaten 102 in fourth Test against West Indies in Antigua; Named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year.

July - Cracks 167 in second Test against West Indies at Edgbaston.

September - Named ICC one-day player of the year.

2005: Named man of the series after England's Ashes win; feats included 102 and three wickets in fourth Test at Trent Bridge.

December - Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

2006: March - Captain in absence of Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick as England claim 1-1 Test series draw in India.

May - Continues as captain for drawn Test series against Sri Lanka but misses rest of summer through injury.

September - Named as captain for Ashes tour of Australia but England are thrashed 5-0.

2007: Dropped from the England team to face Canada, and effectively stripped of the vice-captaincy, at the World Cup after "a breach of team discipline" - the notorious pedalo incident.

Misses summer series against West Indies and injury curtails other campaigns against India and in the World Twenty20. Undergoes a fourth ankle operation.

2008: July - Returns to England side to face South Africa to end more than a year out due to injury.

2009: April - Takes hat-trick for England as they wrap up their ODI series against West Indies 3-2 with a 26-run win in St Lucia; Joins Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings but returns to England before end of competition in South Africa for knee surgery.

July - Returns to England side for opening Test draw against Australia in Cardiff. Aggravates the knee injury he sustained during the IPL.