New model Flintoff adds a moral dimension

Fred Flintoff is the smile on the face of English cricket. He is Andrew, of course, but when did anyone last call him by his Christian name? John Stanforth, the Lancashire coach, first called Flintoff Fred when he was 15. The name stuck among his colleagues and then spread from the players to the crowd. He is Our Fred.

Yesterday at Lord's he did what English cricket fans are coming to expect: 63 runs off 85 balls when they were most needed, pulling England to a modest but potentially vital 55-run lead; then, when New Zealand batted again, there he was opening the bowling with Stephen Harmison, and making a good fist of it (10 overs in two spells for 26). He was close to 90mph, and when he wasn't bowling he was England's main man in the slips.

Flintoff is the sort of sportsman who is referred to as a force of nature, partly because he is so large (6ft 5in) and good-natured. There is something instinctive about his strength and, perhaps, his innocence. So the concept that he might be the mature, senior figure in the partnership with Geraint Jones seemed bizarre when it was mentioned at the end of the day.

But the honours are piling up. Last month he became one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year. Last week he was named Vodafone's Player of the Year, and one reason why he nosed out Harmison was because, in 12 months, he has become more consistent without sacrificing any of his ebullience or enthusiasm.

His innings yesterday was a good case of the New Flintoff. Bold strokes like the uppercut over point and the pull to square-leg, which both went for sixes, were accompanied by a delicate cut between second and third slip for four, and severe straight-batted forward-defensive strokes.

This was the game of an accomplished England No 6, and his significant partnership of 105 with Jones shifted the balance of advantage towards England. Not quite far enough, however. Flintoff admitted they could have done with another 50 or so.

The most striking shots in his innings were those he did not play. When Jacob Oram bowled head-high bouncers, Flintoff withdrew the bat. The Old Flintoff would have been incapable of resisting the temptation. He and Satan were old cronies.

His dismissal was not because he was rash, but because of a technical error. "Poor execution," he said: too much bottom hand meant he overhit the ball, which came high off the bottom of the bat and sank into the hands of Mark Richardson 15 yards short of the mid-off boundary. Disappointing yes, but not frustrating or irritating, as had often been the case in his early twenties.

The crucial episode in Flintoff's brief professional life was when he got a pair against India at Headingley in the summer of 2002 when he ought to have been undergoing a hernia operation. He had it late, was picked for the Ashes tour too early, and was sent home to recuperate.

Lord MacLaurin, then the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, voiced the establishment's scepticism about this amiable young Lancastrian, questioning his commitment. Sure, he still liked his pint, but he was working hard. He is not the insouciant figure he appears to be, and he confessed last week that he had found the criticism hard to take. He had to rebuild his confidence as well as his form, and he did so with less encouragement from the ECB and Team England than he deserved.

Flintoff's comeback against South Africa last summer mocked the doubters; second in the batting averages (with 52.87), and 10 wickets. Best of all was the electrifying 95 at The Oval - the crucial performance in the England victory that brought an unlikely draw in the series. Add his half-century yesterday and his average in the 20 Test innings since his comeback is 43.63. He has also taken 30 wickets at 37.00, and can open the attack, as yesterday, when the ball is unlikely to swing for Matthew Hoggard.

Flintoff was 26 last December, and, despite the injuries and disappointments, he has matured as fast as anyone has the right to expect. His amiability is untouched, but the difference is the discipline.

He identifies that as the quality which England require this morning. Early wickets and they are still in with a chance on a two-paced, but flat wicket. No wickets and even Fred Flintoff will stop smiling, though not for long.