Andrew Flintoff is preparing for his final performance on the Test Match world stage, in the fifth Ashes Test at the Brit Oval.
The Lancastrian all-rounder retires at the end of the series after a plague of injuries in his 12-year international career. He missed the fourth Test at Headingley, in which England faltered to a crashing innings defeat.
Flintoff will most likely react to the occasion with his usual bullish character, but he is not the only England player under a great deal of pressure.
Jonathan Trott makes his Test debut in the most nerve-wracking situation. He is averaging above 80 in first-class cricket this season, but has been thrown in at the deep end to replace the misfiring Ravi Bopara.
England need a win to claw back the Ashes, while a draw for Australia will suffice to retain the hallowed urn.
At the back of the hosts' minds, especially that of captain Andrew Strauss, will be that the Oval has not produced a single result in county cricket this year. In the last match, bottom-of-the-rung Leicestershire racked up 593-5 in response to Surrey's 608-4. England will need to perform well from day one to force a victory.
A predictably flat pitch at the Oval means batting first is a necessity in what could be a runfest. There is some hardness in the wicket to help the spinners, however, and a result is more than possible.
The Lancastrian all-rounder retires at the end of the series after a plague of injuries in his 12-year international career. He missed the fourth Test at Headingley, in which England faltered to a crashing innings defeat.
Flintoff will most likely react to the occasion with his usual bullish character, but he is not the only England player under a great deal of pressure.
Jonathan Trott makes his Test debut in the most nerve-wracking situation. He is averaging above 80 in first-class cricket this season, but has been thrown in at the deep end to replace the misfiring Ravi Bopara.
England need a win to claw back the Ashes, while a draw for Australia will suffice to retain the hallowed urn.
At the back of the hosts' minds, especially that of captain Andrew Strauss, will be that the Oval has not produced a single result in county cricket this year. In the last match, bottom-of-the-rung Leicestershire racked up 593-5 in response to Surrey's 608-4. England will need to perform well from day one to force a victory.
A predictably flat pitch at the Oval means batting first is a necessity in what could be a runfest. There is some hardness in the wicket to help the spinners, however, and a result is more than possible.
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