Answers please: Andrew Flintoff

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff is the most exciting young player to appear in English cricket for several years.

His brilliant innings of 84 off 60 balls in Karachi enabled England to win the first one-day international in Karachi on their pre-Christmas tour of Pakistan.

Next stop it's Sri Lanka - to be followed by a home series against Pakistan and then the ultimate challenge for any England player, and Ashes battle with Australia.

But first Flintoff joins BBC Sport Online to answer your questions.

---

Graham Simpson from England asks:

Q: Who do you think is the greatest cricket player ever?

A: I think it's hard to compare eras and comment on the old players but personally I would say Viv Richards was the best-ever cricketer.

---

James Cosgrove from UK asks:

Q: Which bowler have you had the most problems with and which batsman have you found to be the hardest to bowl at?

A: The bowler has to be Mutthiah Muralitharan. In the nets at Old Trafford we didn't know which way he was spinning it. As for a batsman, Carl Hooper when he got 200 and belted everyone.

---

Stewart Brown from Scotland asks:

Q: I have no doubt that you will be a mainstay in the England team for the next decade and more, but who else do you rate that is coming through right now?

A: Kent's Robert Key.

---

Kelly from England asks:

Q: How do you cope with all the pressure that surrounds you?

A: I'm lucky in that I have good friends and family around me.

---

Martin from England asks:

Q:If you could choose your own cricket team, who would be in it?

A: Mike Atherton, Desmond Haynes, Sachin Tendulkar, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Ian Botham, Adam Gilchrist, Wasim Akram, Michael Holding, Shane Warne and Mutthiah Muralitharan.

---

Rob from UK asks:

Q: What's the fastest speed your bowling has been timed at with a speed gun?

A: 89 mph.

---

Lee English from England asks:

Q: Do you think you can become one of the world's greatest all-rounders?

A: I need to get my back right first to be able to bowl regularly.

---

Nick Bouffant from UK asks:

Q: If you could choose only one, who in the current England team would you consider as their best player?

A: Michael Atherton.

---

Mark Hardle from Essex asks:

Q: When will you be bowling again? I look forward to the Test anmd seeing you smash a big 100. Good luck in Sri Lanka too.

A: Hopefully, I'll be bowling again during the one-day games in Sri Lanka.

---

Matthew Prisco from UK asks:

Q: Do you know why Nasser Hussain wears that band around his elbow? It's been bugging me for ages!

A: He has tennis elbow and it helps to relieve the pain.

---

Arheddis Varkenjaab from London asks:

Q: What do you think England's chances are against the Australians this summer?

A: If we keep playing good cricket and keep improving as we are doing then we may surprise them.

---

Oliver Noble from England asks:

Q: What number would you ideally like to bat for England and why?

A: Four, because I bat up the order for Lancashire.

---

Darren Parmenter from Spain asks:

Q: Why do you think so few England cricketers in recent history are loath to hit the ball 'over the top' in the way that you do?

A: Because most cricketers came into the England team at a later stage in their careers than I did and the older you get, the most your natural instincts seem to be surpressed.