'Retirement frenzy will spur Flintoff'

Andrew Flintoff's impending retirement after the Ashes has whipped England crowd into such a frenzy that he will become increasingly menacing during the series, feels spin legend Shane Warne.

Flintoff's intimidating fast bowling spell in the second Test saw the rattling of Mike Hussey's stumps at Lord's here and Warne tipped the retiring Test star to thrive on the crowd frenzy which in turn would lift England morale to new levels.

"He (Flintoff) enjoys the crowd getting behind him, it really seems to give him that motivation as well," Warne said.

"He is bowling quick and hostile, and it is nice to see the crowd getting behind him," Warne was quoted as saying by Sunday Herald Sun.

Like Warne, Hussey fears that Flintoff will only get better as the crowd get behind him on his farewell lap of England.

"I'm sure that might spur him on a little bit. Flintoff ran in pretty hard and hit the bat nice and hard. He was going very, very hard for a wicket. It was a good spell and I was enjoying the battle," Hussey said.

James Anderson, England's primary fast-bowling destroyer at Lord's, said Flintoff's hostile spell at the home of cricket had a major flow-on effect.

"The way Fred bowled in his first six-over spell, he can take as much credit for our wickets as I can," Anderson said.