Freddie Flintoff may not have been top score in a joyous day for England but he played the most startling innings of a thrilling day. It was pure Beefy Botham and even more. In true Botham style there was brute force in abundance, the crowd was in danger and there was “class and arse” in equal dosage. And Flintoff is so much better looking and a supreme athlete to boot.

But the day opened when possibly the biggest psychological blow of the summer was struck, not on the field but in the warm up. The damage was done by a cricket ball, but it was stationary! While playing a bit of touch footy, Glen McGrath trod on the said ball and rolled his ankle. It is badly injured and it is not yet known how long McGrath will be out for. While I’d guess that the English would have been terribly sorry of the loss of the great man (bad for cricket and all), the event would have buoyed them – no nemesis to worry about. Well, one less at any rate. For the Aussies, they lost one on whom they so heavily depend – and with no time to mentally adjust. I think this is evidenced by Ponting’s decision to bowl. A decision that has caused much wonderment. My theory is that Ponting had read that the pitch was “under prepared” and had decided to unleash his trump card and bowl if he won the toss. When McGrath went at the 11th hour, he should have rethought and allowed his remaining trump to bowl last. That aside, the old adage is if you win the toss, choose to bat. If you decide to bowl, you should still bat. Australia got in trouble sending New Zealand in only four Tests ago.

As it turns out, the pitch was a belter. Probably a welcome change from the bowler friendly pitches encountered thus far on tour. Trescothick top-scored with a gem of 90 (made from just 102 balls) and sacrificed his wicket and chance at a century with a lame shot. Pietersen made what seemed a more measured but still authoritative 71 (still just 76 balls) but it was Flintoff who stole the show and had the crowd in a state of delirium. He started but lofting Warne over mid-off, barely clearing Kasprowicz. Before he was 40, he had chipped a Warne full toss just wide of mid-wicket, he skied a hook shot just short of fine leg and lobbed a slow ball from Lee into the extra cover area, neatly landing between the fieldsmen. And amongst all of this a stunning array of fours (6) and sixes (5) was unleashed. The most incredible, was a hook from Lee: Flintoff was beaten for pace, closed his eyes, turned his head and even checked the shot. The super slow replay showed the ball hit the absolute meat of the bat, which twisted in Freddie’s hands and propelled the ball over the ropes. The dust settled when Flintoff departed just after tea, having made 68 from 62 balls.

Stumps were called when Hoggart was dismissed from the second ball of the 80th over. Score a black mark for the Aussies on the over rate! England had reached 407 at a run rate of 5.13!! The innings include 280 in boundaries (55 x4 and 10 x 6). It’s a great platform for England but the Aussies still have a chance, depending on how they bat. The pitch is a road and they will need to make 500. Will we see the first century of the series come in the Aussie innings? I think yes.