Andrew Flintoff fulfilled the demand for another spectacular display of attacking strokeplay to become the catalyst for England's push for a crucial victory in the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

The Lancashire all-rounder has already emerged as a key figure in his maiden Ashes series - claiming the man-of-the-match award in the narrow second Test triumph at Edgbaston and following up with a four-wicket haul as Australia clung on desperately for a draw at Old Trafford.

Impressive as those performances were, though, he eclipsed them with a stunning century.

It steered England to a daunting total of 477 and provided the spark for England's improving attack to leave the tourists reeling on 99 for five by the close of the second day.

Flintoff's brilliant 102, compiled off just 132 balls and including a six and 14 fours, provided the impetus for a superb fightback after England had lost Kevin Pietersen to the 25th ball of the day, threatening their hopes of reaching a competitive first innings total.

Flintoff dominated a 177-run partnership with wicketkeeper Geraint Jones - the fourth time the pair have shared a century stand - enabling England to record their highest Ashes total since scoring 478 for nine declared at Edgbaston in 1997.

Lifted by Flintoff's brilliant century, England's bowlers responded to reduce Australia's misfiring batting line-up to 58 for four with Matthew Hoggard exploiting swing-friendly conditions to claim three for two in 11 balls.

Reluctant as Flintoff is to accept comparisons between himself and another larger-than-life former all-rounder, the manner in which he inspired another day of England domination was strikingly similar to Ian Botham's memorable efforts to win the Ashes in 1981.

Botham's unbeaten 149 at Headingley that year was the impetus for Bob Willis' stunning spell of eight for 43 to seal victory after following on.

That success gave England the momentum to go on and claim a memorable Ashes series victory - and time will tell if Flintoff's efforts so far in this series will achieve the same outcome.

But the Lancashire all-rounder has certainly gone a long way to establishing England's key advantage in potentially the pivotal Test of the series.

England had resumed on a promising 229 for four, with an expectant crowd hoping to witness a partnership to remember between big-hitters Flintoff and Pietersen.

Flintoff survived a strong early appeal for leg before wicket from Shane Warne while Pietersen edged a full-length Brett Lee outswinger behind to leave England facing a tricky early spell.

Flintoff was also narrowly close to being caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist's dive after he had guided Michael Kasprowicz down to fine leg on 24.

But otherwise England's talisman dominated an increasingly ragged-looking Australian attack.

He was confident enough to bring up his third half-century of the series by sweeping Warne for six, while the new ball did little but increase England's urgency with Flintoff hitting four boundaries in six balls - one off Lee and three off debutant fast bowler Shaun Tait.

While Flintoff took the attack to Australia, Jones intelligently rotated the strike to allow that to happen and was content playing a supporting role in a crucial partnership which gathered 73 runs from the first 14 overs with the new ball.

The only time Flintoff became calmed was when he reached 99 - he took 10 minutes and seven deliveries before finding the run to take him to three figures.

Just 12 minutes later he earned a second standing ovation when he was lbw to Tait, but by then the impetus was firmly with England - and even a sudden collapse could not dampen their spirits.

Jones followed nine overs later for a determined 85, giving a return catch to Kasprowicz after mistiming an attempted drive, while Warne shrugged off concerns over a supposed sore back by wrapping up the tail and finishing with four for 102.

Sensing an opportunity to once again plunge Australia into trouble, Yorkshire seamer Hoggard shrugged off inconsistent displays during the opening three Tests to exploit conditions tailor-made for him.

Matthew Hayden never looked likely to break out of his barren spell during a scratchy 41 minutes at the crease until Hoggard put him out of his misery by winning the first of four successful lbw appeals.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was dismissed in identical fashion during the next over from Simon Jones while Damien Martyn followed suit by becoming Hoggard's second victim and the third wicket to fall in 11 deliveries.

Opener Justin Langer survived Hoggard's probing for a further eight overs, but played all around a full-length delivery and got a bottom edge onto his pad, allowing Ian Bell to take a superb diving catch from short leg.

And England's day of domination was complete when Steve Harmison trapped Michael Clarke with the final delivery of the day.