Andrew Flintoff changed the course of England's crucial match with India played on a sultry afternoon in Durban and did not deserve to finish on the losing side.

After Sachin Tendulkar had launched his country's innings with a thrilling array of strokes, the lumbering Lancastrian produced the spell his team sorely needed. Taking the ball with Tendulkar in full flow is not the easiest of tasks. A man cannot bowl timidly for Tendulkar will sense it and add to the ferocity of his attack. Nor can a bowler send down anything off line because the Indian seizes upon these like a warden upon an overstaying vehicle.

Flintoff had to be hostile and precise. He needed to show the Indian master that he had met his match. Anything less and England might as well have packed its bags.

It was a terrific duel, a struggle for supremacy played out in public between an aggressive pace bowler thumping the ball down and a batsman at the peak of his powers. Tendulkar had been brilliant, easing the ball of his legs with a roll of the wrist and then, anticipating a short delivery, stepping back and dispatching a slight under pitch outside the ground. Tendulkar also produced two exquisite strokes, pushes past the bowler taken on the rise and played with such force that astonished fieldsmen found themselves trotting to the boundary to fetch the ball back.

Here was perfection in timing and execution. Sachin was in command, a glorious batsman taking an attack apart. He made batting look easy, a feat beyond his counterparts later in the day. England needed to find some inspiration and time was short. Flintoff responded with the meanest spell of his career.

Off the field Flintoff is the most genial of coves. If there is any malice in him it has not emerged. Admittedly he does write for the rougher sort of English newspaper but he is not the first famous man to fall into that trap. He is the gentlest of giants and can be imagined nursing a child in his massive paws. Critics complain that he is soft but a man cannot change his nature at the drop of a hat. A lively companion, he is popular amongst teammates and has been mentioned as a future captain of his country. England has high expectations of him. When he is fit, he plays.

Hitherto, Flintoff has not scored nearly enough runs or taken remotely enough wickets to justify his reputation. He has the sort of record calculated to bring frowns from the most liberal judge. Nonetheless, the selectors have kept faith, confident that sooner or later someone this huge and talented must break through. Foreigners have been puzzled by this patience and generally put it down to the desperation of the struggling.  Farmers needing rain can see clouds forming on the horizon.

India had rushed to 58/0 in 9 overs as Flintoff began his spell. He proceeded to bowl 10 consecutive overs that brought two prized wickets at a cost of 15 runs. Glenn McGrath could not have bowled any better. Tendulkar could not get him away. He faced 14 balls from the Lancastrian and took only two runs. Repeatedly the Indian was pushed back and forced to parry. 

Looking for room, he found none. Searching for half volleys, he was thwarted. After a spell on an express train, India's innings moved as slowly as the steam engines that rumble between stations in Rajasthan.

Tendulkar played every ball on his merit and was restrained. After drinks, he tried to cut loose and a back force was held at point, an error Tendulkar has made before. Already Virender Sehwag had been removed but this was the prized wicket for the Indian wanted to dominate this match, as he wants to make his mark upon the entire competition.

Great players usually get their way. Flintoff's spell denied Tendulkar the mastery innings he craved. India was becalmed. It took an awfully long time for the innings to regain momentum. Rahul Dravid did his utmost, an old head steadying the innings, Sourav Ganguly must have been satisfied with his team's position and delighted as his opening bowlers produced some searing and unlucky spells. Javagal Srinath beat the bat time and again in a magnificent display. Ashish Nehra was even better and produced the spell of his life as Indian secured a famous victory.

Flintoff alone defied them for long. He batted superbly in a losing cause and proved himself a strong cricketer in a struggling team.