Super Fred served up a tasty starter but was devoured by Kallis and Boucher

There was no such outcry at Edgbaston last week when Andrew Flintoff dusted off his
cape and resurrected ‘Super Fred’ - English cricket’ s bruiser, enforcer and erstwhile
saviour. OK, nobody died, or even suffered permanent scarring, but there were casualties.

One to savour: Andrew Flintoff hammers a six and leaves Hashim Amla searching for cover

Jacques Kallis will not forget the brutal onslaught which shattered his stumps. And that assault came after Flintoff ’s destructive cameo with the bat - which culminated in a towering six off Makhaya Ntini, followed by a rocket-propelled off drive which nearly decapitated the South Africa seamer.

Having seen the Lancashire all-rounder wield his sledgehammer and broadsword so
effectively in Birmingham, England fans came to The Oval desperate to witness more of the same barbaric acts in the national cause.

Armed with the ball on Thursday, Flintoff had obliged to an extent - taking one wicket and bowling with trademark precision, but not quite replicating the blood-and-thunder ferocity of Edgbaston.

Yesterday was a big day in Super Fred’s resurgence, as he was back in familiar territory at No 6 in the batting order. With the 30-year-old reinstated as a bona fide all-rounder, trusted to deliver his fair share of runs, England were blessed with balance again.

But he had to justify the faith placed in him by new captain Kevin Pietersen.

Unfortunately, he came to the crease just after the Lord Mayor’s Show, as Pietersen
departed to a tumultuous ovation following yet another dashing hundred.

It's over: Flintoff walks back after being dismissed by Kallis

There was an awkward 10-minute period to negotiate just before the delayed tea interval . . . and Freddie negotiated it in fine style. After getting off the
mark by guiding an off-stump delivery from Ntini down to third man for three, he again displayed that violent streak which has cemented his cult status.

Paul Harris keeps serving up tempting morsels for England batsmen and Flintoff just could not resist the latest dish on the buffet. Stepping down the pitch he lofted an innocuous delivery high over long on and into the Pavilion seats for six.

That mighty swipe whetted the appetite of the full house.

After tea, they settled in to enjoy more of the super-hero routine, with South Africa’s bowlers supposed to oblige as the hapless, put-upon Jokers. But it did not
quite work out that way.

Kallis trundled in and pitched the ball up, with just enough movement to defeat Flintoff’s wooden drive. Mark Boucher pouched the edge and Freddie was on his way for nine.

It was not the heroic offering he or his adoring public had in mind. While he will be given time to re-acclimatise to the heights of No 6, it matters so much to England’s prospects that their talisman is fit and firing with bat and ball. But this comeback
summer following his fourth ankle operation has been a disjointed tale featuring plenty of wickets, but too few runs.

Flintoff prides himself on being worthy of a place in the top order - knowing his fast
bowling is so consistently effective that it takes care of itself. His mantra is that he has a well-honed technique at the crease that he can trust.

Former England coach Duncan Fletcher became exasperated by Flintoff’s unwillingness to learn new batting tricks, but he has always blocked or bashed
and he probably always will.

After all, he has to fit the modern super-hero’s ultraaggressive template.