Strauss lauds match-winning Freddie

All-rounder Flintoff, 31, is due to begin his 79th and final Test against Australia at the Brit Oval, where England must win to regain the Ashes.

"I don't believe you rate someone purely on their stats, you rate them on their contribution to team victories and to the game of cricket," said Strauss.

"And in those two senses Fred has been a massive player for us. He's obviously a huge character as well and I don't think the bare stats do justice to the man.

"He's earned the right to be considered one of the best players in my generation and he's earned it because he has put in big performances at just the right time. Hopefully he can do that once more and lead us to victory."

Flintoff missed the thrashing at Headingley due to injury but with the Ashes still alive, Strauss wants him to bring control rather than distraction in his farewell to Test cricket.

"You play your best cricket when you are emotion-less so it's a case of your head ruling your heart most of the time and perhaps we didn't do that as well as we should have done at Headingley," said Strauss.

"There are lesson to be learned from that Headingley Test.

"Clearly none of us are struggling for motivation this week, everyone is just genuinely excited about playing this game of cricket because it could be a very, very special game.

"And if we start the game well we have a good chance of putting them under a lot of pressure at the back end of the game."