JIMMY Anderson has vowed to fill Andrew Flintoff's giant boots after his Lancashire team-mate shook the cricket world by deciding to quit Test cricket at the end of the Ashes series.

And the Red Rose hero of the first Test believes he can become England's main strike bowler.

Flintoff stunned English cricket on the eve of the second Test at Lord's by announcing he will quit the five-day game at the end of the summer.

The 31-year-old Lancashire all-rounder admitted the catalogue of injuries he has endured over the years, which included four operations on his troublesome left ankle, has finally taken their toll on his body.

"It will have no impact on the team and what we have to do," said Anderson, who frustrated the Aussies with the bat to pull off England's Great Escape in the first Test at Cardiff.

"We want to win the series because it is what we set out to do. Whether Fred is retiring or not, it is not really an issue.

"It is something Freddie has done on his own, although I am sure he will be keen to put in a performance in his final few Tests.

"He told me a couple of days. I was a bit surprised but when you think about the injuries he has had over the last few years you can understand the logic behind it.

"It has been difficult for him to go through the amount of rehab he has done."

Flintoff, who faced a fitness Test this morning, is still keen to play one-day cricket for both England and Lancashire, but it is unsure how much of a part he will play in the rest of the Ashes having had three injections in his right knee on Monday. But whatever happens, Anderson believes Freddie's legacy is clear.

"I believe he is one of the greatest ever to play the game," said the 27-year-old.

"And if he had not had the injury problems, I am sure he would have been able to play on for a few more years and gone on to reinforce that.

"He has helped me a great deal. He is a great person to talk to because of the amount of experience he has had at the highest level over the years.

"It was no surprise to us how strong the Aussies are. But we are confident we can beat them. There is no doubt they are world class, but at the end of the day they are just human."

THE Vodafone Street Sixes is coming to The Great Northern, Manchester, on July 25 from 2pm-8pm. Six-a-side caged cricket, everyone bats, everyone bowls and the winning team will get tickets to the Ashes.

To find out more, visit vodafone.co.uk/cricket.

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