Whitewash really hurt but now we're so strong, insists Andrew Flintoff

Yet four years after the high point of Andrew Flintoff's career, the big Lancastrian must prove himself all over again by repeating his heroics of 2005 and helping England regain the urn from Australia.

Since the series to end all series - followed by the victory party to end all victory parties - Flintoff has battled problems both on and off the field, with his ill luck with injuries and his occasional misdemeanours away from the sporting arena.

Much will be revealed about Flintoff's physical condition during this First Ashes Test in Cardiff but the signs since he returned to the squad have been encouraging. His latest off-field controversy - Flintoff missed the team bus during a squad bonding session in Belgium - came less than two weeks ago but the 31-year-old then bowled menacingly in last week's practice match against Warwickshire, touching speeds of 90mph.

Flintoff fought back from a torn meniscus, sustained in April while he was playing in the Indian Premier League, to take part in this Ashes series and while he is confident about the challenge that lies ahead, 'Freddie' is taking one step at a time.

"The most important thing for me at the moment is five Tests against the Aussies and then we'll take it from there," said Flintoff, who was captain when England were thrashed 5-0 during the last Ashes series Down Under two and a half years ago. "Hopefully, I can enhance the team by coming back in and doing what I can. If I am playing well, I will perform as I have shown in the past. The Australians no longer have Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath or Adam Gilchrist, who would be tough players for any team to replace.

"But the Aussies always seem to have a knack of finding players who can come in and take over key positions, so they remain a very good team.

"But rather than worrying about them, we need to make sure our own games are in order."

Ankle and knee-related problems have contributed to Flintoff missing 25 of England's 47 Tests since the 2005 series but his sheer force of personality ensures he remains crucial to the home side's chances this summer.

The 2006-07 whitewash remains a hugely painful memory - Flintoff admits he felt lower after that series than he had felt high after 2005 - but England's talisman insists he is impressed by the team's new breed.

Five of the key men during May's 2-0 series win over West Indies - Ravi Bopara, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Graham Onions - had never played in an Ashes series before and Flintoff believes this lack of experience can work in England's favour. "When I compare 2005 with 2006/07, the stronger emotion of the two was after the defeat," Flintoff said. "As good as winning was, being beaten 5-0 over there was tough.

"The squad that travelled was not in a position to take on Australia. There was a lot of false expectation, whereas now it's a completely different team.

"The side is changing, with Ravi batting well at No3, Jimmy Anderson is performing and Swanny is getting better. It was important to beat West Indies, because it gave the team momentum to take into Cardiff.

"We have seen the competition for places. It is not just about me or Kevin Pietersen or whoever, because each department we have is strong.

"There's a freshness about it. There are players who have never played against Australia, never experienced some of the drubbings England teams have suffered in the past.

"There is almost a fresh approach to it: eyes wide open, let's enjoy it. That's an advantage for us."

Despite Flintoff's enthusiasm for the five battles with the Australians, there remains uncertainty about his long-term future as a Test match player.

Like most top internationals, Flintoff made no secret of his desire to play in the IPL, his short stint with Chennai Super Kings resulting in the knee problem which ruled him out of the first part of the summer.

When West Indies skipper Chris Gayle claimed he would rather play Twenty20 cricket than Test matches, he was contradicted in the most forthright terms by his England counterpart Andrew Strauss. Yet Flintoff has a far more equivocal view of the relationship between the oldest version of the game and the newest one.

"The public will decide," he said. "If people want to watch Twenty20 and the stadiums are full, we'll probably see more of it.

"It is not right to say Chris is wrong, each form of the game offers different tests for players and to perform in any form of the game is rewarding, so I can probably see his argument. I enjoy playing Test cricket and the Ashes is the biggest thing for me but Twenty20 tests you in different ways."

Yet there could be no better boost for Test cricket in this country than the sight of Freddie putting the Aussies to the sword - as Flintoff himself knows only too well.

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