Skysports.com takes a look back at the career of England's talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff.
The highs and lows of the Lancastrian all-rounder
Skysports.com takes a look back over the career of England's talismanic all-rounder Andrew Flintoff who announced his retirement on Thursday.
1977: Born Preston, December 6.
1995: Makes Lancashire debut.
1998: Makes Test debut against South Africa at Trent Bridge and awarded county cap.
1999: Scores 50 on one-day international debut against Pakistan at Sharjah. Returns to England side on tour of South Africa but breaks a foot in fourth Test at Cape Town.
2000: Hits 84 in just 60 balls as England begin their tour of Pakistan with victory in opening one-day international at Karachi.
2001: Flies out to rejoin England squad in Sri Lanka for one-day internationals after injury but does not feature against Pakistan or Australia over the summer. Recalled to one-day side for short tour of Zimbabwe.
2002: Scores maiden Test century against New Zealand with 137 off 163 balls in a 281-run partnership with Graham Thorpe in first Test at Christchurch.
2003: Features in World Cup after injury-curtailed Ashes tour and scores first Test century in England against South Africa at Lord's and a brilliant 95 off 104 balls to level series at The Oval.
2004:
April - Takes maiden Test five-wicket haul in third Test against West Indies in Barbados and hits unbeaten 102 in fourth Test against West Indies in Antigua. Named as one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year.
July - Cracks 167 in second Test against West Indies at Edgbaston.
September - Named ICC one-day player of the year.
2005: Named man of the series after England's Ashes win; feats included 102 and three wickets in fourth Test at Trent Bridge.
December - Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
2006:
March - Captain in absence of Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick as England claim 1-1 Test series draw in India.
May - Continues as captain for drawn Test series against Sri Lanka but misses rest of summer through injury.
September - Named as captain for Ashes tour of Australia but England are thrashed 5-0.
2007: Dropped from the England team to face Canada, and effectively stripped of the vice-captaincy, at the World Cup after "a breach of team discipline" - the notorious pedalo incident.
Misses summer series against West Indies and injury curtails other campaigns against India and in the World Twenty20. Undergoes a fourth ankle operation.
2008:
July - Returns to England side to face South Africa to end more than a year out due to injury.
2009:
April - Takes hat-trick for England as they wrap up their ODI series against West Indies 3-2 with a 26-run win in St Lucia; Joins Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings but returns to England before end of competition in South Africa for knee surgery.
July - Returns to England side for opening Test draw against Australia in Cardiff. Aggravates the knee injury he sustained during the IPL.
July 15 - Confirms he is to retire from Test cricket at the end of the summer's Ashes series.
July 20 - Named man of the match after a second-innings five-wicket haul in England's dramatic second Test victory over Australia at Lord's.
August 20 - After missing the third and fourth Tests, returns for the decisive fifth and final Test.
August 23 - Marks retirement from Test cricket in style as England win by 197 runs at The Oval to regain the Ashes. Barely an hour later, it is announced he will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his injured right knee on August 25 and will miss the NatWest Twenty20 international series and NatWest Series against Australia and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.
September 15: Rejects the ECB's offer of an incremental contract.
November 6: Signs a new three-year deal with Lancashire.
2010: January - Signals his intention to play four-day cricket for the Red Rose county, having previously only committed himself to one-day cricket.
March 2 - Admits he may have played his final game of cricket.
August 2 - His return from injury is delayed as he is held back from the Lancashire 2nd XI's one-day game against Yorkshire.
August 3 - Withdrawn from the three-day game between the sides and Lancashire later announce he will miss the rest of the season.
September 16 - Announces his retirement from all forms of cricket.
