After 3 years, Lancashire snapped him up, impressed with his batting power. Freddie made his Lancashire first-class debut in August 1995, and scored just 7 runs, while dropping 5 catches. This led to a slow start in professional cricket, and he was often derided for his weight and fitness levels by opposing fans. Despite this, Flintoff made his Test debut for England against Sotuh Africa in 1998, scoring 17 runs in his only innings, and taking 1 wicket, Jacques Kallis. He kept his England place until 2001, when he went to Rod Marsh's ECB academy to work on his bowling action, and he gained his place on the tour to India in 2001/02. Here, his batting suffered so m uch that he was seen crying in the dressing room. However, he was given the ball in the final one-day match, with India needing 11 runs to win. In successive balls Freddy ran-out Anil Kumble, before bowling Srinath. Flintoffs batting improved though, scoring a century and 3 half-centuries against South Africa in 2003, and another century in Antigua, West Indies in April 2004. In 2004, Wisden Cricketers Almanac named him Cricketer of the Year. Flintoff scored his first-class high score on 167 against the West Indies in 2004. Flintoff's injury problems resurfaced in 2005, surgery on his left ankle left doubts as to whether he would be fit for the Ashes series that summer. He made it, and it turned out to be his series, scoring 402 runs, including 9 sixes in the second Test, and taking 24 wickets across the 5 Tests. Flintoff was also involved in one of the most endearing moments of the series, comforting Brett Lee after Englands dramatic win in the second Test. Flintoff went on to be named 'Man of the Series', also winning him the 'Freedom of Preston', and the 'Compton-Miller Medal'. Later that year, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, in honour of his successful summer. Another milestone in Flintoff's career came in February 2006, when in the absense of both Marcus Trescothic and Michael Vaughan, he was given the captaincy for the series in India. He led England to a drawn series, famously playing Johnny Cash's 'Ring of Fire' in the dressing room during the final Test, which motivated the team to go out and win the Test to level the series. Flintoff scored four fifties and took 11 wickets to cement his place as one fo the worlds best all-rounders.

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