During his power-packed assault of 167 against the West Indies in 2004, Andrew Flintoff smashed one straight into the Edgbaston stands offering a fairly simple chance to Colin Flintoff, his father. He spilled it.

Between the home series against South Africa in 2003 and the 2005 Ashes, Andrew Flintoff was undeniably in his prime as a Test all-rounder. Fit, ever-present and hugely influential with bat and ball, not only did he generate match-winning statistics, he also created great stories and headlines.

The second Test at Birmingham against Brian Lara’s West Indies was the perfect case in point. The second day’s play got underway with Flintoff resuming his innings on his overnight score of 42. Batting with Geraint Jones, the giant Lancastrian finished with a career-best 167 from 191 balls with 17 fours and seven sixes.

It was one of those trademark spiralling sixes that in an instant perfectly summed up Flintoff’s career, his appeal to the man in the street, and his personality as something of a home bird. As the ball sailed in the direction of the massed ranks of the crowd, this particular blow arrowed its way towards the top tier of the RV Ryder Stand, the seating area that accommodates players’ friends and family.

The ball was so perfectly struck that it presented itself as a straightforward catch to none other than Colin Flintoff, father of the striker, who promptly spilled the chance. “I should have caught it,” admitted Flintoff Senior. “I saw it coming all the way, but it bounced out of my hand and ended up in the lap of Michael Vaughan’s mum.”

Flintoff realised the ball had been dropped by his dad and offered his own assessment of his efforts at a catch: “He plays at the weekend and comes home every week telling me what a great catch he has taken. But I think he has now proved to everyone that he is terrible! He got all excited and he put it down, didn’t he? I’ll have a go at him later!” Priceless.

First published in 2009