Flintoff named BBC Sports Personality of the Year

Andrew Flintoff capped an amazing year by being named BBC Sports Personality of the Year © Getty Images Enlarge

Andrew Flintoff has been crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year following his leading role in England's Ashes success. He becomes the first cricketer since Ian Botham in 1981 to win the award which is picked by the British public.

Flintoff collected the trophy, presented by Botham, at the England team hotel in Lahore looking slightly bleary eyed - not surprising given that is was 3am local time. He thanked the support of his team-mates, family and management team and was joined in a live link to London by Shane Warne, who had earlier won the Overseas Personality award.

Flintoff told the BBC the summer had a huge impact on his life. "It has been unbelievable since we won the Ashes. Simple things have changed. Everybody knows who you are, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to find places to escape it. But there is no danger of my not concentrating on cricket. I'm comfortable on the pitch, and that will never change. I have to remember what I do for a living."

The Ashes success dominated the evening as the England side won the team award, which was accepted by Michael Vaughan after his early return from Pakistan with his knee injury. Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Ashley Giles joined Vaughan in representing England at the event.