For so long a symbol of hype and desperation in English cricket, Flintoff now deservedly carries the mantle of talisman.

An effortlessly powerful striker of the ball and naturally fast swing bowler who also boasts one of the safest pair of hands in world cricket, England's apparently futile search for an heir to IT Botham has born improbable fruit.

The Lancastrian looked certain to find his name next to those of David Capel, Chris Lewis and Phillip De Freitas after an inauspicious start to Test cricket.

Those early days were characterised by lazy dismissals with the bat and a fragile back which only ever looked one errant shoelace away from surgery.

As an enthusiastic disciple of Preston cuisine, Flintoff's self-professed love of pies appeared to be taking its toll as he managed only 12 Tests in four years following a 1998 debut.

He has since admitted to being as much as three stone overweight during that period but it was the unrepentant attitude which so frustrated England fans.

Few ever doubted that 'Freddie' possessed the talent to be a world-class all-rounder but at the highest level mental strength is the pivotal factor, and it took a dreadful 2001 wearing both the red rose and the three lions to inspire revolution.

Flintoff's unexpected request to visit Rodney Marsh's winter academy was granted by Duncan Fletcher with immediate improvement in the New Year.

He made 137 against New Zealand in a match-winning partnership of 281 with Graham Thorpe at an Australian-like five-an-over and played six out of seven Tests in England that summer.

Michael Vaughan has since suggested that Flintoff's stats pre-2003 should be deleted and though the suggestion was clearly made tongue-in-cheek, its attractiveness is obvious.

Flintoff left South Africa in January averaging over 40 with the bat and under 30 with the ball - the guidelines said to define an all-rounder of the highest calibre - during that period.

History cannot be consigned to the dustbin but there is a real belief that recent years offer an indication of Flintoff's true ability rather than a simple upturn in form.

He has allied a watchful defence to extravagant strokeplay and like Botham has shown the priceless ability to take wickets at crucial times.

Couple those skills to his faultlessness at second slip and the aura to instill belief in team-mates and supporters alike, and one of English sport's longest standing and emptiest clichés may finally find some substance this summer.