A fresh-faced Andrew Flintoff makes his England Test debut at the age of 20 against South Africa in 1998, taking the wicket of Jacques Kallis and making 17 in his only innings
South Africa are also the opponents as Flintoff goes on his first England tour - but in what is to become a recurring theme, his tour ends early because of a broken foot
Amid concerns from the England management over his fitness and weight, Flintoff is unable to nail down a regular Test place until 2002
But in his 13th Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, Flintoff celebrates his maiden century, smashing 137 off 153 balls as England win by 98 runs to clinch the series
Flintoff has his first experience of the Ashes in 2002 when he travels Down Under with the squad but a groin injury prevents him from taking part
A fitter, leaner Flintoff returns in 2003, scoring a century and three fifties and taking 10 wickets as England draw the series 2-2 against South Africa
A maiden five-wicket haul follows in the third Test against West Indies in 2004
And Flintoff makes the Windies suffer again in the home series that year as he wallops 167 in the second Test, his highest score, and his growing reputation sees him named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year
But the defining moment of Flintoff's Test career, of course, comes with the Ashes series of 2005 as he lines up with England's 'dream team' bowling attack of Simon Jones, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard
In the epic second Test, Flintoff hits a crucial 73 in England's second innings before taking four wickets as Australia lose by two runs. His handshake with Brett Lee would become one of the iconic images of the series
Flintoff's celebrations also go down in history as the all-rounder is pictured with tell-tale red eyes on the open-top bus parade. "I got a bit caught up in the moment," he would later admit
Flintoff is named man of the Ashes series and it is no surprise when he also wins the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ahead of sailor Ellen MacArthur and Liverpool's Champions League-winning skipper Steven Gerrard
Flintoff plays for a World XI in a one-off Super Series Test match in Sydney in October 2005 but despite taking seven wickets in the match, he is unable to save them from a 210-defeat by Australia
With Michael Vaughan struggling with a knee injury, Flintoff steps in as England captain for the 2006 series draw in India - and the Ashes Down Under in 2006/7
But the series proves to be a dismal one for Flintoff and his England troops, as they are thrashed 5-0 by an Aussie side fired up their shock defeat on English soil
Vaughan returns for the 2007 World Cup, with Flintoff appointed vice-captain - but he is stripped of that honour and banned for one game when a late-night drinking session ended in the notorious 'Fredalo' incident
A fourth bout of ankle surgery plus a string of other injuries mean Flintoff sits out Test cricket for more than a year, returning against South Africa in 2008 when he takes his 200th Test wicket
Flintoff's one-day prowess makes him hot property in the Indian Premier League and he is snapped up by the Chennai Super Kings, only to return early for surgery on his knee
Flintoff wins his fitness battle and is fit to resume battle with the Aussies in the first Ashes Test at Cardiff, hitting a vital 26 in the second innings as his side scrape a draw
But the all-rounder suffers a recurrence of his knee injury, prompting him to announce that the Ashes 2009 will be his last Test series. "It's been a hard decision but a decision that's been pretty much made for me," he said
Some wonder whether Flintoff's announcement will be an unwelcome distraction but he puts in a match winning performance with five second-innings wickets as England defeat Australia at Lord's
But Flintoff is far from fully fit for the drawn Test at Edgbaston, with the all-rounder smashing a brutal 74 but failing to take a wicket and with concerns about his knee he misses the defeat at Headingley
Although newspaper reports suggested Flintoff had been fit for Headingley, only to be overruled by the selectors, he returns for his final five-day appearance, the series-deciding fifth Test at The Oval
Despite a relatively muted display with both bat and ball in the first three days, Flintoff's sensational run out of Ricky Ponting breaks the seal which helps England secure a 197-run win - and the Ashes
The celebrations begin in earnest as England reclaim the six-inch urn, although Flintoff admits he will not be hitting the partying heights of 2005
Instead, the totemic all-rounder says he will spend more time with his three children Holly, Corey and Rocky, wife Racheal and parents Colin and Susan
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