Irresistible Freddie always one to watch

If Andrew Flintoff is at the top of his game, England will have a real chance of beating Pakistan © Getty Images

The fact that even the Australians hailed him as the world´s best all-rounder surely means that Andrew Flintoff was at the top of his game in the Ashes. A return of 402 runs and 24 wickets was a massive contribution and without him, it is almost impossible to think that England would have managed to wrest the Ashes from the grip of the Aussies for the first time in 18 years.

Now, though, "Freddie" will have to be on his game once again if England are to triumph in Pakistan, and his performances will be arguably more crucial than any other player in the series. If Pakistan can keep him quiet, then they will probably win, but if he shines, anything other than an England victory would be a surprise.

Having struggled in the first part of his career, Flintoff has really blossomed in recent times. His overall average is now 33, which is only mediocre by international standards, but in his last 20 matches, it has risen to 42, with two of his five centuries and 11 of his 17 fifties coming in that time. With superb natural timing and controlled aggression, he is able to turn a match in the space of just a few overs. Though he has yet to dominate on foreign soil - his average overseas is 28 - that is relatively meaningless as he is improving with every series, and it is surely only a matter of time before he prospers on tour.

If his batting is impressive, then his bowling is superb. A return of 150 wickets in 53 Tests does not sound particularly impressive, but his last 20 Tests have yielded 87 and he has become such a force that many experts consider him to be England´s best bowler.

His ability to produce reverse swing was crucial in the win against Australia and it will be even more important in Pakistan, where a generation of bowlers from Imran Khan to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis produced prodigious swing with the old ball. Now that his fitness, which hampered him in the first part of his Test career, is vastly improved, he is a vital cog in the England machine.

Expect him to be high up in the bowling markets for the series, and it would be no surprise to see him emerge as the top wicket-taker, while he is sure to make runs too.