Super Fred sinks Australia

The papers are falling over themselves to praise Andrew Flintoff after his fierce spell ended England's 75-year wait for an Ashes victory at Lord's, besides handing the home side a 1-0 lead in the series. Simon Barnes, a long-time fan of Flintoff, writes in the Times that Monday's show confirms Freddie's greatness, though the career numbers may not say so.

Flintoff’s may not go down in history as the greatest of great careers. But Flintoff can do greatness — genuine greatness — on a seasonal basis, as he did four years ago, and on a daily basis, as he did yesterday. His thundering spell of mesmeric hostility first snuffed out the candle flame of Australian hope and then plunged them into the darkness of defeat. He bowled for an hour and a half in excess of 90mph, and every ball was a drama. Not bad for a lame lad.

Scyld Berry ranks Flintoff's bowling as one of the great spells in Ashes history, and writes in the Daily Telegraph that Flintoff will continue to intimidate Australia right through the series.

With the exception of the 1956 series which was won by Jim Laker taking 46 wickets, every Ashes series that England have won since 1930 – starting with Harold Larwood and Bodyline – has been won by pace. And Flintoff’s spell was up there with his own bowling in 2005, and Ian Botham’s in 1985 and 1981, and Bob Willis’s at Headingley in the latter year, and John Snow’s, and Frank Tyson’s and Brian Statham’s, and so on

Paul Hayward writes in the Guardian that after Brad Haddin's wicket, the final day of the second Test became "a study in one man's quest to leave an audience not just wanting but slavering for more."

And in the Times, Michael Atherton says the Lord's Test will be remembered as Flintoff's Test: he began by announcing his retirement, and ended by showing how much he will be missed.

Flintoff showed just why he has won the heart and soul of every cricket fan in England over the past decade despite the modest career figures, says Angus Fraser in the Independent.