England have regained the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87. If one were to choose a single English player who made the biggest impact on the series, it can not be one other than Freddie Flintoff.
Making his first appearance in the Ashes contests, Flintoff gave one of the best all-round performance in a series in the history of the Test cricket. That it was after a gap of more than 30 years a player scored 400 runs with the bat and at the same time captured 20 wickets with the balls speaks volumes of Flintoff’s awesome talent.
Flintoff is only the second English all-rounder and seventh in Test cricket annals to achieve the grand double of 400-plus runs and 20-plus wickets in a series. Tony Greig is the only other Englishman in this very short list. Greig, incidentally, was also the last player to have done so before Flintoff. West Indian Gary Sobers remains alone in performing this feat twice.
Making his first appearance in the Ashes contests, Flintoff gave one of the best all-round performance in a series in the history of the Test cricket. That it was after a gap of more than 30 years a player scored 400 runs with the bat and at the same time captured 20 wickets with the balls speaks volumes of Flintoff’s awesome talent.
Flintoff is only the second English all-rounder and seventh in Test cricket annals to achieve the grand double of 400-plus runs and 20-plus wickets in a series. Tony Greig is the only other Englishman in this very short list. Greig, incidentally, was also the last player to have done so before Flintoff. West Indian Gary Sobers remains alone in performing this feat twice.
Allrounder For Vs Season Mts Runs Ave Wkts Ave
G Giffen Aus* Eng 1894-95 5 475 52.78 34 24.12
GA Faulkner SA * Eng 1909-10 5 545 60.56 29 21.90
JM Gregory Aus* Eng 1920-21 5 442 73.66 23 24.17
KR Miller Aus WI * 1954-55 5 439 73.17 20 32.05
GStA Sobers WI * Ind 1961-62 5 424 70.66 23 20.57
GStA Sobers WI Eng* 1966 5 722 103.14 20 27.25
AW Greig Eng WI * 1973-74 5 430 47.78 24 22.63
A Flintoff Eng* Aus 2005 5 402 40.20 24 27.29
* Series venue
