Strauss hails Flintoff's key moment

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It was Flintoff, largely ineffective with his two main all-round skills in his last Test appearance, who instead made a telling impact in the field - running out Ricky Ponting with a direct hit, just when it seemed the Australia captain was mounting a dangerous fightback.

"It was that stage in the game. The ball was old, didn't look like it was doing much for anyone; Ponting and Hussey were playing exceptionally well - and we needed a moment of inspiration," Strauss recalled.

"We weren't quite sure where it was going to come from. But you can't keep 'Fred' out of the game, and that was an unbelievable bit of fielding which just set us in motion again.

"That's the value of being a great all-rounder in so many different ways, with the bat and ball, great catch - or in this instance, a fantastic run-out."

The ultimate outcome was a 197-run victory at the Oval which sealed a 2-1 npower series success as England regained the Ashes.

England must get by without Flintoff from now on as they plan to build on their Ashes success. But for the man himself, being an integral part of Sunday's win was the reward for much endeavour and the culmination of an 11-year Test career - previously defined by England's 2005 Ashes victory, now with another all-time high too.

"All the injuries and operations - it's for moments like this. What a way to go," Flintoff told Sky Sports as he reflected on his glorious finale before injury-enforced retirement.