Freddie vs Freddie: Andrew Flintoff takes on his Ashes 2005 version

Back in 2005, Andrew Flintoff was part of one of the most riveting versions of the Ashes. Back then, he was fast and furious, and used to unfold mayhem with his sheer pace and venom. He was the Three Lions’ leading wicket-taker in the series with 24 scalps at an average of 27.29. The Lancashire-born was also deadly with the bat in hand, finishing as the third-highest run-getter.

Freddie notched 402 runs at an average of 40.20 with three fifties and a solitary century. It didn’t spring a surprise that Flintoff was adjudged as the Player of the Series for his all-round show. The Aussies started with a 239-run victory at the Lord’s. However, the Brits came back with victories in Birmingham and Nottingham. The team, led by Michael Vaughan, won the series 2-1.

Flintoff has a tough time

As far as Flintoff is concerned, his last competitive game was for the Brisbane Heat in the 2014-15 edition of the Big Bash League. Coming to the Ashes, Flintoff lately had the chance of reminiscing some of its great moments. In fact, he had a chance of facing himself. He faced his version from the famous Edgbaston Test match, which England won by two runs to draw level in the series.

He was faced with a bowling machine that was programmed to mimic his deliveries from the over where he got rid of Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer. Flintoff found it tough to counter his own bowling as the ball swung and bounced to a great extent. In the second ball of the over, he rattled Langer’s woodwork through a delivery that came back sharply and took the batter’s inside edge.

The last ball of the over was the best as Ponting had to walk back for a duck, a big wicket in the context of the game as the Aussies needed only 234 runs to get a 2-0 lead. It found Ponting’s outside edge and Geraint Jones took a simple catch. However, 19 years later, Flintoff deposited the ball.

He found the middle of the bat and the leather sailed over the ropes for a humongous six. It was the over that changed the complexion of the Edgbaston Test. The Australian lower-order, consisting of the likes of Shane Warne, Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz, tried their best, but to no avail.

Here is Andrew Flintoff’s video

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