Flintoff flourishes in new role

Andrew Flintoff has impressed against the spinners

Andrew Flintoff’s influence in the England side is growing through every series according to coach Duncan Fletcher - and his profile in India appears to be magnifying at the same rate.

England arrived in Mumbai for the final Test to be greeted by huge billboard posters of their new leader, sporting a beaming smile, shoulder to shoulder with absent captain Michael Vaughan in an advert for a local mineral water.

The tourists are determined to bounce back after losing the second Test in Mohali despite another fine showing from Flintoff.

The 28-year-old, joint-holder of the International Cricket Council’s world player of the year award, hit innings of 70 and 51, claimed four first-innings wickets and his captaincy once again had a distinctive coolness about it.

Andrew Flintoff leads out England © Getty Images

“It is a huge ask for him,” said Fletcher, of Flintoff’s triple responsibility.

“He batted magnificently - it is nice to see how he has come on against spin, he played it very effectively.

“That was an area he struggled with if you have to had to criticise his game.

“He is bowling as well as ever and on top of that he has captained well.

“You couldn’t ask for a more difficult job for an individual, playing those two roles, and then to captain an inexperienced side on top is a huge ask and he is doing it very well.

“He is growing in stature as the years go by, he is a world-class performer.”

When he last played an international in this city four years ago he took centre stage after his bowling at the death of a one-day international secured a narrow victory to square the series.

He famously ran around the ground twirling his shirt above his head and would be entitled to do the same again if he can mastermind a victory by a fledgling side over an Indian side 1-0 up.

“We always knew it was going to be difficult here,” said Fletcher. “Even with the full side it was going to be difficult.

“Now we have four major players while they are playing at full strength; it is a huge ask for a young side and we have got to make sure we keep battling on.

“With a young side it is very difficult to be consistent, it takes time to get the necessary experience and over the last four or five years you have seen that kind of pattern emerging.”

Fletcher has emphasised the failure of the batsmen to take advantage of the toss as the overwhelming factor during the second Test.

“The key to it all is to get a decent score in the first innings, it always puts the opposition under pressure, and even if they do get a little partnership going, as India did in the middle, you are still well ahead of them,” Fletcher said.

“It is crucial to use the wicket when it is at its best and get a lot of runs from it.

“The top order need to lay a platform but whoever has got the job to bat, from number one down to eight, it is essential that you get over 400.

“That is the main objective that should be looked at and achieved.

“We have done it before so why can’t we do it again and get big totals?”