Flintoff wants to end year in style

All rounder Andrew Flintoff will seek to cap his perfect year on Saturday with a match-winning performance in the Champions Trophy final against West Indies.

England coach Duncan Fletcher says Flintoff has been the key to the team's resurgence.

"Andrew has been a huge part of it with his runs and all-round ability," he said.

"He balances the side and adds a huge dimension."

The 26-year-old, whose career at one stage looked under threat due to an inability to curb both his appetite and his weight, has scored eight half-centuries in his last eight Tests.

Two of those were converted into centuries, including his career-best 167 against West Indies at Edgbaston in August. England have won their last seven tests, whitewashing both New Zealand and West Indies.

Flintoff's one-day batting has been as impressive, with three hundreds and a 99 in his last seven One-Day Internationals.

That led to him being named the International Cricket Council's one-day player of the year meant he was included as the only Englishman in their limited overs world XI.

He was also named player of the year in England by the Professional Cricketers' Association this month, as well as becoming a father for the first time.