From his debut in 1998, Flintoff became an integral player for England, and has both captained and vice-captained the team. Nonetheless, his struggle to make the grade at county level continued, he found form only intermittently, though often explosively when he did so. in 2000 he hit 135 not out in the Quarter-finals of the Natwest Trophy against Surrey, which David Gower described as “the most awesome innings we are ever going to see on a cricket field”. in the same year England’s management made clear they were unhappy with his fitness and weight, Flintoff responded to his critics with 42 not out in a one day game against Zimbabwe on his home ground of Old Trafford, forming an explosive second wicket stand with Graeme Hick; as he collected the Man of the Match award he remarked his performance was “not bad for a fat lad”. He matched this haul in the Second Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston in July, hitting a first-class best figure of 167.
