Flintoff clubbed nine boundaries Match report

The Lancastrian is becoming a key figure in the England set-up.

As a bowler in the NatWest Series he has repeatedly tied down opponents with his accuracy and is England's leading wicket taker.

But it was his batting, a 37-ball 47, that really made the team sit up and take notice.

Time and again Flintoff has failed to live up to his potential and deliver on the international stage, but is this the sign of things to come?

Mike Gatting

It's all about shot selection with 'Freddie'.

The more time he can spend at the wicket in situations as in Bristol, he will become more adept and understand what he can and can't do.

You've got to give yourself time to look at the wicket and the bounce before picking the right ball to hit.

And it's important for England that he does spend time at the crease at five or six in the order.

Flintoff rode his luck and played some thumping drives to steer his team to the final Jonathan Agnew Agnew's verdict

The rest of the middle order lacks something and looks paper thin at the moment, but Flintoff has the power to knock the ball either over the fielders or through them.

Once or twice he had a couple of little wafts, but in general he tried to get right in behind the ball.

When he defended he defended with a straight bat showing the full face and with time he will select the right balls to destroy.

Henry Blofeld

Flintoff finished things with a flourish and a soaring six - an exhibition of pyrotechnics.

At times he can be a little bit hit and miss, but it was a remarkable innings and maybe we should give him more credit than we often do.

He showed good judgment, none more so than when he had a terrific flail against Heath Streak.

Flintoff would be useful at three to keep the scoreboard ticking over although there's the worry that he might not be able to build an innings Kevin Wilson TMS Message Boards: Have Your Say

We all wondered what on earth was going on when he missed the ball, when in fact Flintoff had noticed there were three men on the boundary and it was a no-ball.

It made very good sense and was something we wouldn't have particularly thought he would be aware of.

His bowling is up to scratch, he is a formidable competitor and can become a high class all-rounder.

If he can produce batting of that calibre again, which matches his bowling, it's not fanciful to talk about the likes of Ian Botham.

Vic Marks

When Flintoff opens his shoulders he can terrify any bowling attack.

At 25-4 England could have been severely embarrassed, Flintoff playing and missing and Michael Vaughan looking nervous throughout.

There could have been a lot more blushes in the dressing room, but Flintoff played brilliantly in a tight situation.

I thought I'd play a few shots and see what happened Andrew Flintoff Match reaction

He can damage opposing attacks, but England need four or five players in the middle order who can be relied upon to play solidly, pick up the ones and twos, and not throw their wickets away.

You don't want Flintoff to be the man who bats responsibly, he needs to have a bit of licence.

It limits his possible contributions with the bat if you say to him 'Go out and play sensibly and take singles'.

You want to see him hitting the ball, but the problem is that there is nobody to give Flintoff that licence to play with a little abandon.