Flintoff: Ashes banter is nothing new

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The Lancashire all-rounder, who hit 74 off 79 balls on Sunday, was embroiled in several exchanges of words with Mitchell Johnson, while Stuart Broad and James Anderson also became involved during a tense fourth day.

Australia will begin the final day trailing by 25 runs on 88 for two, and Flintoff said: "It's competitive out there in the middle. It means a lot to each side and the game has been played tough, but with a good spirit."

He added: "It was very competitive but nothing to worry about.

"I'm sure when people see it they wonder what's going on, but all the way through the Test series it's been played in a good spirit - we're trying to get wickets and the lads are going hard, and the Australians play it tough as well."

Flintoff's innings, his highest Test score on English soil since scoring his last century against Australia at Trent Bridge four years ago, was the catalyst for a major England fightback after the team led by Andrew Strauss slipped to 168 for five in reply to Australia's 263.

Today he will be required to run in and bowl more overs as England press for the victory which would seal a 2-0 series lead despite having little time to recover before Friday's fourth Test at Headingley.

"I'll bowl my overs, I'll bowl whatever Straussy asks me to, and in between Tests I'll rest up, do all my icing and do everything possible," he said.

"I want to play in every Test in the series and it would have to be something very serious for me not to. I've scored a few runs and bowled a few overs and I will bowl a few more on the final day and then rest up."