After dealing with criticism on fitness and injury issues early on his career, there was no denying
Turning 39 today, Flintoff was an aggressive batsman, who was also very handy with the ball, with more than 6,000 international runs and 300 wickets to his name.
His finest hour came in the 2005 Ashes in England, finishing the five-match series with 24 wickets as well as 402 runs as the hosts regained the urn for the first time since 1987. The former captain went on to taste Ashes success four years later, before retiring.
Having got into the ring as a professional boxer, he made a brief comeback in 2014, playing for Lancashire and Brisbane Heat.
As well as being named 2005 ICC Player of the Year, he is the third highest English wicket-taker in
ODIs with 168 scalps.
Other sport stars born this day
1948: Keke Rosberg, a Finnish driver, who won the 1982 Formula One world title (68).
1971: Richard Krajicek, Dutch tennis player, who won 1996 Wimbledon singles title (45).
1979: Tim Cahill, former Everton midfielder, now with Melbourne City (37).
1982: Alberto Contador, Spanish cyclist, one of six riders to have won all three Grand Tours (34).