The cult of Andrew Flintoff continues to grow after yet another heroic Ashes performance, this time bowling England to victory in the second Test at Lord's.
As well as Flintoff has played against Australia during his career, Australians have only seen from afar the impact the all-rounder has on the game.
Flintoff has saved his best against Australia for his adoring home fans, most famously in 2005 and possibly again this year as his Test career draws to a close.
On home soil, Flintoff averages more than 38 with the bat and 29 with the ball, as opposed to 28 and 33 in Australia.
But raw numbers alone go only part of the way to explaining Flintoff's appeal.
In India, grounds have a habit of suddenly filling up as news spreads that Sachin Tendulkar has arrived at the crease. They disperse just as quickly when their idol is out.
Flintoff's effect on crowds in England is different but no less compelling. His post-wicket celebrations invite fans to shower him with adulation.
In the two Tests thus far this series whenever Flintoff has arrived at the bowling crease, the masses stop talking mid-sentence, in much the same manner as schoolboys suddenly hush when the headmaster takes the lectern.
But the respect here for Flintoff, a failed England captain, is earned partly for his achievements but more so his larger-than-life personality.
Flintoff is a superstar and a larrikin who loves a drink. We've all heard about his drunken escapades on a pedalo in the Caribbean during the 2007 World Cup.
Legend has it during the euphoric celebrations following the 2005 Ashes series, he relieved himself in the backyard of 10 Downing Street before the team's triumphant street parade in London.
Forget Jamie Siddons and Sam Trimble. Flintoff is the best 'Australian' cricketer never to wear the baggy green.
His final spell at Lord's on Monday was equal to any of his feats four years ago.
Back then, Flintoff was at the peak of his powers. Mind and body were as one, and injury an occasional enemy rather than the constant foe it has become in recent times.
With his team in need, Flintoff summonsed every ounce of strength he had and regularly sent down thunderbolts nearing 150kmh past the Australians.
He did not grab the wicket of Michael Clarke but one could mount an argument he had a huge part to play in his demise.
He forced Clarke to send the bat with which he scored his first Ashes ton in England back for repairs. Cricketers are a superstitious breed. Clarke made just 10 more runs.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting refused to rate Flintoff up with greats he had faced such as Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Wasim Akram, but said he was Andrew Strauss' major weapon.
"There's no doubt when Andrew's up and running and there's a game on the line, he's the one who wants the ball," he said. "And I guess the England captain is always going to throw him the ball in that situation."
As a measure of Flintoff's wholeheartedness, or perhaps his lust for attention according to those who raised eyebrows at the timing of pre-Test announcement of his future, he told Strauss he would not stop bowling until the game was won.
"I think after he took the first wicket this morning he said 'by the way just to let you know I'll keep bowling until all the wickets are gone'," Strauss said.
"It sounds like a good plan to me and so it proved."
At his best, Flintoff was among the best three bowlers in the world, Strauss said.
"I know he sometimes doesn't get his just rewards for the hostility he bowls with, but no-one enjoys the spells he bowls and it was great to see him get the rewards in this game," he said.
"With that kind of consistent hostility it's frankly unpleasant, not much fun in the nets and not much fun in the middle either."
Flintoff, however, has only three Tests left before he takes off his whites to see out his career as a one-day cricketer.
"I'm learning a bit more about bowling and how to bowl. My length is naturally probably a little bit shorter and aggressive. Once you get the batters back probably the full length ball is a little bit more threatening," he said.
"I've got an understanding of what to do, I'm going to have to apply that in the next three games."
"When I was younger with the new ball in my hand I got caught in two minds. Should I be swinging it and I'm just putting it away now. I just hold it seam up and try and wang it. It seems to be working."
It is with great shame, then, that the all-rounder will bow out of Test cricket at a time when his bowling stocks are still rising.