Beefy v Freddy

Andrew Flintoff is playing his last Test series for his country. His legacy is one of excess, hitting, humiliation, bowling, drunkenness and inspiration. Remind you of anyone?

Ian Botham was England's last world class all rounder and bore many similarities both on and off the field. Both were strong, burly, aggressive batsmen and bowlers and both enjoyed their lives outside the game to the extent that their International futures were questioned and ended for lengthy periods. Both also had their finest moments in Ashes series.

Here's a quick look at their International career stat lines:

Sir Ian Botham

Batting

Tests - 102, 161 Innings - 5,200 Runs at 33.54, HS 208, SR 60.71, 14 100's, 22 50's, 67 6's
ODI's - 116, 106 Innings - 2,113 Runs at 23.21, HS 79, SR 79.10, 9 50's, 197 4's, 44 6's

Bowling

Tests - 102, 168 Innings - 383 Wickets at 28.40, Economy 2.99, 27 5W, 10 10W
ODI's - 116, 115 Innings - 145 Wickets at 28.54, Economy 3.96, 3 4W

Andrew Flintoff

Batting

Tests - 77, 127 Innings - 3,742 Runs at 31.71, HS 167, SR 61.53, 5 100's, 25 50's, 81 6's
ODI's - 141, 122 Innings - 3,394 Runs at 32.01, HS 123, SR 88.82, 3 100's, 18 50's, 93 6's

Bowling

Tests - 77, 133 Innings - 225 Wickets at 32.17, Economy 2.97, 3 5W
ODI's - 141, 119 Innings - 169 Wickets at 24.38, Economy 4.39, 6 4W, 2 5W

Clearly the game changed in the 20-odd years that separated their careers (higher run rates in all forms of the game, better fitness levels and fielding, Botham of course never got the chance to play Twenty20) but the two have eerily similar numbers to add to their similarly chequered pasts (you were drunk....and you fell off a pedalo...?).

The numbers appear to state that Botham was the stronger Test batsman, particularly in converting his starts into centuries (14 to 5), and the better Test bowler, again with his ability to be a match winner (27 5-Wicket Innings to 3 and 10 10-Wicket matches to 0).

Flintoff, however, was/is the more dynamic ODI player; far more centuries, 50's and 6's at a higher strike rate and with a much higher average. As a bowler, he has more wickets at a better average and a few 5-Wicket hauls aswell. An economy of 4.39 in the modern game (and 2.97 in Tests by the way) is incredible.

The better player? Not for me to expand on. Botham was the more dynamic Test player, the finisher over 5 days. Flintoff was and will continue to be the more rounded One Day player, the master of the single afternoon. One thing you don't need stats to know? They were both the heart, soul and stimulus of England victories.