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London: Andrew Flintoff insisted he would get through the rest of the Ashes series after bowling England to their first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years.
Flintoff, on the eve of this match, announced he would retire from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes.
The injury-plagued all-rounder has most recently been troubled by a knee problem and, when he started to suffer fresh discomfort at Lord's, speculation began to grow he might bow out of Tests completely at the 'home of cricket'.
But as he came roaring in at top pace here on Monday, there was no sign of the fast bowler struggling for full fitness during an unbroken 10-over spell.
He finished with five wickets for 92 runs as England won the second Test by 115 runs to go 1-0 up in the five-match series.
The 31-year-old Lancashire favourite was adamant he was looking forward to the remainder of the series, telling reporters: "You hear what's been said and it's never been my intention to bow out at Lord's
"I want to be in an Ashes-winning team come the last Test match at the Oval. To be on that podium at the last Test will be the perfect way for me to go," said Flintoff, the star of England's 2005 Ashes series win.
His Monday haul was only the third time in 76 Tests for England that Flintoff had taken five wickets in an innings.
Australia, chasing a world record fourth innings winning total of 522, were bowled out for 406 shortly before lunch on Monday's final day after resuming on 313 for five.
Flintoff, who calmed England's nerves by removing Brad Haddin for the wicket-keeper's overnight 80 with just his fourth ball of the day, went on to take his first five-wicket return since his five for 78 against Australia at the Oval four years ago.
And, having been England's captain when they were whitewashed 5-0 in Australia in 2006/07, Flintoff is desperate to play a full part in this series.
"I've three Tests to go and I will do anything to get out onto that field and finish this series," he said. "The encouraging thing from my point of view is that I've bowled all my overs.
"I may have had a bit of discomfort, but I've played most of my career in discomfort so that's nothing new. I know where I am with it."
England captain Andrew Strauss will hope Flintoff does not suffer any adverse reaction.
"I know that if you had to list the top three bowlers in world cricket that batsmen don't want to face, Fred's going to be on that list and probably at the top of it," Strauss said.
"No one enjoys facing him and sometimes he doesn't get his just rewards for the hostility he bowls with. Sometimes he doesn't get those five-fors, but no one enjoys those spells he bowls.
"It was good to see him get what he deserved this game because that kind of consistent hostility is unpleasant. Quite frankly it's unpleasant in the nets and it's not much fun in the middle, either," the opening batsman added.
"After he took that first wicket this morning he said 'by the way, I ought to let you know I'll keep bowling until all the wickets are gone' - I thought that sounds like a good plan to me and so it proved."
Australia captain Ricky Ponting, whose side are 1-0 down in an Ashes series for the first time since 1997, said of Flintoff: "When he's up and running as bowling as well as he can, good as anyone around.
"He gives his all, his spells have not got shorter and his pace didn't drop off. He's always been a great competitor and when the game is on the line he wants the ball."
Flintoff's return secured him a place on the dressing room honours board, which records all those who have taken five or more wickets in a Test innings at Lord's.
"It is nice to get five and get up on that board but to go 1-0 up in Ashes series is the big one," Flintoff said.
The series continues with the third Test at Edgbaston, starting on July 30, and Flintoff added: "This has been a fantastic team performance but we have to get better at Edgbaston next week."
