Flintoff becomes a father for the first time

Andrew Flintoff is once again in a celebratory mood today, after becoming a father for the first time.

Flintoff's fiancée, Rachel, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Holly, at 3.52am this morning. Holly weighed in at 6lb 2oz, and both mother and daughter are said to be doing well.

Flintoff becomes the second England player to enter parenthood this season. Back in June, the captain, Michael Vaughan, dashed to hospital midway through the Headingley Test against New Zealand, to witness the birth of his first daughter, Tallulah Grace.

The team management granted Flintoff paternity leave ahead of the third and final one-day match against India at Lord's yesterday, and in his absence, England slumped to defeat by 23 runs.