Andrew Flintoff has paid tribute to an "unflappable" Ashes-winning England captain as he prepares to embark on the latest chapter of his own international career.

Flintoff, back in action for England this week after another injury lay-off and eager to get Australia in his sights again, will be bowling in the nets at Edgbaston today while Michael Vaughan confirms his retirement at a media conference elsewhere in the ground.

Like Flintoff, Vaughan has been plagued by fitness problems since the Ashes were won in 2005. But, unlike the man who led England to that prize four years ago, the all-rounder can still lift the little urn once again.

Flintoff points to Vaughan's record of 26 wins from 51 Tests in charge as proof of his value as a skipper.

"Michael has been England's best ever captain, statistically and, from my point of view, I've played my best years so far under him," said Flintoff. "He's helped me out and helped everyone who played under him.

"The man was unflappable. There could be mayhem going on all around him, but it was as if there was nothing happening. Whether a side were 500 for none or 90 for nine he always looked pretty poker-faced. He gave confidence to his team, he helped us as a player and he was a mate as well.

"He'll probably go down as one of the greats of the game."

Flintoff will command a place in next week's First Ashes Test in Cardiff provided he emerges unscathed from this week's three-day warm-up game against Warwickshire.

At 31, he is three years younger than Vaughan but he has spent far too much time of late recovering from four ankle operations, side strains and, during the first half of this season, knee surgery.

"I think I've done something like two years' rehab in total since 2005," said Flintoff. "It's been tough but the reason you do it is to put that England shirt back on and get the chance to play in an Ashes series. I'm not far away from that now."

However, Flintoff has blotted his copybook with England's cricket bosses after missing part of the 'team bonding' trip in Flanders. The all-rounder failed to appear for the bus that took the players on a trip to the First World War trenches at Ypres. His no-show, last Saturday morning, has resulted in unspecified disciplinary action - possibly a fine, paid to charity.