He has been the scourge of the opposition for so long. His importance was underlined in this series where despite being half-fit he managed to knock over the tourists at Lord’s to claim five wickets and even ran out Australian captain Ricky Ponting at the Oval (which he said on Monday was probably the first time he’s ever run somebody out).

Flintoff (79 tests, 3,845 runs, 226 wickets) has been the heartbeat of the England team over the past five years and his departure will leave a gaping hole in the setup.

Nevertheless, the biggest mistake England and the media could make would be to conduct a search for the ‘next Andrew Flintoff’.

The previous talisman for England, Ian Botham (102, 5,200, 383), retired in 1992 and immediately a number of all-rounders were built up as the ‘next Ian Botham’, much to the ire of former England captain Michael Atherton back in 2001.

Phil Defreitas, Chris Lewis, Craig White and Dominic Cork came and went in the 90s, but not until Flintoff made his debut in 1998 did England recognise a potential player in the ilk of Botham.

However, not until 2004 did Flintoff really begin displaying match-winning prowess with both bat and ball, and at his peak in the 2005 Ashes series the Englishman was an unstoppable force.

Let this be a lesson of caution to those who expect a ready-made replacement.

Stuart Broad (767 runs and 64 wickets from 22 tests) has caught the eye in the last two tests, but let’s not forget he was ineffective in the first three matches of the series and has yet to prove durability with the bat and enough variety with the ball to trouble world class batsmen.

The good news is he is only 23, and should be kept in the side to build up confidence ahead of the 2010-11 Ashes series in Australia.

Graeme Swann, while not a paceman and by no means a spring chicken, is another vital cog with bat and ball in this current England team and will be key for future tours to Asia where turning pitches are the norm.

On the fringe of the setup are 21-year-old spinner Adil Rashid and seamer Tim Bresnan, both competent with a piece of willow in their hands though on current form , Rashid should get the nod ahead of Bresnan and may figure for England’s four-test tour to the number one-ranked test side South Africa from November-January.

The 2-1 Ashes result left the Australians scratching their heads and the home supporters happy as larry, but there is plenty of work left to do for this current England side. A patient approach would be the best one.

PHOTO: Andrew Flintoff of England celebrates taking the wicket of Ricky Ponting of Australia with a runout throw during the fifth Ashes test cricket match at The Oval in London August 23, 2009. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Some would say that's an understatement.

"It's the biggest football challenge in my life," the 61-year-old Swede told a news conference in the Midlands city of Nottingham on Wednesday.

"I always said I wanted to come back to the (English) Premier League, because it's the best league in the world. I've chosen a difficult way to do it, it will take some years but I'm sure we will do it."

Has there ever been a more eyebrow-raising appointment in world football?

Of course a lot of money from the new Middle Eastern owners of the oldest club in the world has tempted Eriksson but there will be many soccer fans who still won't quite be able to believe it.

Young Briton Laura Robson, at 15 the youngest female in the main draw since Martina Hingis in 1995, opened up the tournament by losing to Slovakia's Daniel Hantuchova, though by winning the first set there were once again delirious scenes prompting the terrace's short-lived name change to Robson Green.

But once Andy Roddick got underway, following Venus Williams on Centre Court, it wasn't long until the world's number three male player walked casually into the All England club.

A few minutes shy of 1440 GMT and the Briton made his laid-back entrance with just a friend for company, a contrast to some players who arrive in cars with tinted windows and a brigade of supporters. It's a wonder there's any space for their enormous bags.

Murray began his tilt at the Wimbledon just a couple of hours later and didn't disappoint, looking every bit a potential victor by overcoming inspired American Robbie Kendrick, who dived for just about everything on court. The American even saluted the crowd after losing with a dive earning him many friends.

Next up for Murray is Latvia's Ernests Gulbis, another tricky opponent who reached the French Open quarters last year.

Another one to watch is Argentine Juan Martin del Potro. You can't miss him -- not only is he 6'6" but his shots are straight from the top shelf.

PHOTO: Andy Murray reacts during his match against Robert Kendrick at Wimbledon, June 23, 2009. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

Yet no one bargained for ice.

Just ask Novak Djokovic and Julien Benneteau, who provided the Centre Court crowd with thrills aplenty as both suffered some horrific looking falls on the increasingly slidey surface.

Benneteau earned several well-deserved ovations for the rowdy fans after requiring treatment for some heroic dives, and Djokovic was full of praise for his opponent after the match.

"He was fighting a lot and he deserved to be supported today," the Serb told British TV.

Andy Murray plays last on Centre tomorrow, and will need to get his skates on against American Robert Kendrick. A long match is all the top players need in the early stages of a grand slam.

The fans weren't the only ones making plenty of noise.

Screeches reverberated from Court One as Russian Maria Sharapova tried to outdo Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher de Brito, who caused a storm at Roland Garros with her grunting.

De Brito was strangely quiet on Monday. "Well, I tried to be quiet for you guys today,' she said in jest to reporters.

PHOTO: Julien Benneteau of France holds his knee during his match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 22, 2009. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth

The focus heading in to England's second Test has been on local hero Graham Onions, and latterly the West Indies captain Chris Gayle, after he said he would "not be so sad" if Test cricket were to disappear.

While Onions bowled well at Lord's I suspect Swann has the capacity to have the greater impact during the Ashes series and it's vital for England that he maintains his form against the WIndies this week.

Swann bagged six wickets and a maiden test half century, earning him the player of the match award in England's 10-wicket win last week.

There's no doubt that England will need a solid bowling unit this summer. But equally important is the inclusion of a lower order batsman such as Swann to shore up the innings like he did at Lord's on Wednesday and Thursday.

England's Ashley Giles ‘The King of Spain' did an important job in that respect in the 2005 Ashes when he averaged 15.5 from 10 innings. That might not sound a lot, but it's the staying in that counts and he managed that very well, enabling specialist batsmen to compile bigger scores at the other end.

England need Swann to do that sort of job against Australia. Another performance like the one he gave in the first Test would give the English the perfect pre-Ashes boost

It could prove to be a masterstroke. As the sun shone down and school kids on half-term flocked to the stadium, it had the city buzzing again just two days after the disappointing loss to Chelsea.

But the Geordie faithful are precisely that, and rarely do they turn their backs in disgust when things aren't going well, just ask Habib Beye.

If the Magpies don't escape relegation, it will be horribly sad to see St. James' Park half-full at best for Championship games.

Newcastle's run-in however is a tough one, and with just seven games remaining I fear for the club and their most loyal fans.

Seeing the optimism that abounded on Tuesday among the young faces was uplifting, but the effect Shearer's return has had could turn to heartbreaking scenes come the season's end.

PHOTO: Newcastle United's interim coach Alan Shearer gestures during their training session at St James' Park in Newcastle April 7, 2009. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

The recent announcement that two Australian cricketers will play English county cricket before the Ashes has been met with stinging criticism and bewilderment in the UK.

Opening batsman Phil Hughes, who's just played in the third test against South Africa and is fresh from becoming the youngest batsman (at 20) to hit two centuries in a match, and opening bowler Stuart Clark, chief destroyer of England in the 2006-7 Ashes with 26 wickets, will play for Middlesex and Kent respectively.

Cue a whole lot of English whining.

Ex-England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart has hit out at the idea, and radio phone-ins would suggest a lot of the public are also angry that English cricket will be helping rivals find form before the big series.

Several Australians called in too, and one said if a half-fit Andrew Flintoff was allowed to play some warm-up matches before an Ashes series in Australia’s domestic competition (the Sheffield Shield) then some of their finest cricket grounds might be burned to the ground.

Of course there’s also the argument that English youngsters should be given the chance to play at county level, and the decision to allow Hughes and Clark to come for a handful of games seems only to benefit the Australians.

On the other hand, former England bowler and Stewart’s team mate Angus Fraser has no problem with the decisions. He would rather see a high-level competitive battle between two fit and ready sides than a lopsided affair.

And one radio caller said let them come and play; we’ll only get a better look at them that way.

This debate will surely run and run until the first Ashes ball is bowled at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on July 8.

PHOTO: Australia's Stuart Clark bowls during training in St. George's, Grenada, June 26, 2008. REUTERS/Andy Clark

It's ironic, for nowhere is swearing more prevalent than in soccer. Over the years foul language has cemented itself as part of football culture.

The unforgettable Brian Clough, in keeping with his eccentric ways, once decided to erect signs around Nottingham Forest’s City Ground reading, “Gentlemen. No swearing please! Brian.”

Old Big 'Ead threatened to resign (in jest, of course) if the fans didn’t adhere to his requests, but they merely responded with a cheeky sign of their own... “Brian. No leaving please! The Gentlemen.”

That was 20 years ago when hooliganism was a big problem in the game.

However, nowadays language at football grounds is often still foul and abusive -- both on and off the pitch. Bearing in mind stadiums have become a lot more family friendly, what kind of an example must this be setting and shouldn't the FA be doing more to stop it?

My Reuters colleague Mike Collett told me last year about his experience at a Millwall game, where three generations of the same family were repeatedly using offensive language.

As ticket prices have soared, fans are increasingly arguing for their right to voice their opinion. But should they watch the language they use?

PHOTO: Manchester united and england striker Wayne Rooney has often been caught on camera swearing during matches. Of course, he is not alone. October 25, 2008. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Australia, visibly in decline after a spate of retirements, started the first test match at Johannesburg against South Africa, one of the top test nations, with three debutants.

Former England bowler and BBC commentator Jonathan Agnew says it is 24 years since the Australians last experimented so boldly. Not surprising given the wealth of talent they have produced over the years.

And as to be expected, the debutants were up to the task. Marcus North scored a ton in the first innings, Phillip Hughes scored a vital 75 in the second, and Ben Hilfenhaus was thrown the new ball in both of South Africa's innings. How's that for a vote of confidence?

Meanwhile England, playing against the weaker West Indies, went into the penultimate match of their series with just four specialist bowlers on as flat a track as you’ll ever see in test cricket. The match ended in a bore draw and now England face their first series defeat to the Windies in 11 years. 

The time was surely right to pick talented Yorkshire bowler Rashid for the fifth and final test in Trinidad. They've picked two spinners in Graeme Swann and the recently ineffectual Monty Panesar, so why not give Rashid a go? 

Rashid enjoyed a brilliant season in the 2008 County Championship, and in the long term England would benefit more from giving untried youngsters a runout rather than salvaging a draw from this series. Uncapped paceman Amjad Khan did at least get the nod ahead of Steve Harmison.

All-rounder Ravi Bopara was picked instead of a specialist bowler for the last test, and although he scored a hundred, to win a test match a team must take 20 wickets.

England must get these selection issues in order if they are to regain the Ashes.

PHOTO: England's Adil Rashid throws during training at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain before the fifth test match against the West Indies March 5, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown

To those uninitiated with cricket, to hear complaints about a playing surface being ‘flat’ would only further confuse them. As if the game, also hit by tragedy this week, wasn’t complex enough.

Now, a recent trend of high scores has led to criticism from some of the game’s former players, who are equally baffled by pitches that serve up nothing more than run feasts.

A list of highest test innings above 600 includes five totals all scored in the last couple of weeks, and two of those make the top 10.

This is not to say that all is bad in world cricket.

A glance at the recent first test match between South Africa and Australia shows how cricket ought to be.

There was life in the pitch from day one, and with the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg being at altitude the ball is more likely to swing. Yet Australia’s number nine batsman, Mitchell Johnson, was still able to score 96 not out in the first innings.

Nevertheless, with all the adverse publicity for cricket emanating from Allen Stanford’s controversial 20 million dollar match last year and his recent fraud charges, the last thing the sport needs is to alienate itself from further potential followers.

While the shorter form of the game continues to grow in popularity, test match cricket played over five days cannot be ignored.

There have been calls to bring back uncovered pitches and to change the ball every 50 overs (currently the new ball is available every 80 overs).

Can anything else be done to help save five-day cricket?

PHOTO: England's Andrew Strauss watches a Shivnarine Chanderpaul shot go for four during the fourth test match at Bridgetown, Feb. 28, 2009. REUTERS/Philip Brown