BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Rival captains Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting both pinpointed all-rounder Andrew Flintoff as the vital player in Tuesday's Champions Trophy semi-final between England and Australia here at Edgbaston.
Flintoff, 26, recently crowned ICC One-Day International Player of the Year, has been in commanding form in both Test and one-day cricket during the past 12 months and his 104 in Saturday's victory against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl was instrumental in securing England's passage into the last four.
"The way he's playing, he's a guy you want in your team," Vaughan told reporters at Edgbaston on Monday.
"Hopefully, if he takes the form he has had in the last 12 months into tomorrow's game because if he does that he is certainly our match-winner and I'm sure the Aussies will be thinking exactly the same."
And Ponting, also speaking at Edgbaston on Monday, said: "Obviously, he's been a fantastic player for England over the last year in both forms of the game, particularly his one-day batting of late has been outstanding.
"We spent a bit of time talking about him at our team meeting yesterday (Sunday) but no more than anybody else. We've got a few things we might try against him tomorrow."
England are set to field the same team that beat Sri Lanka by 49 runs in Saturday's rain-affected game.
But Australia have a selection dilemma with Ponting admitting the world champions were tempted to go in all guns blazing with a four-man pace attack featuring Brett Lee, their quickest bowler, in place of emerging all-rounder Shane Watson.
Were Lee to be included, he would take his place alongside Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz in a formidable seam bowling attack.
"I think we've got in our squad at the moment four very good fast bowlers who have all done fantastically well over a long period of time in all conditions," Ponting said.
"If we get a wicket that seams around a little bit it will suit us more than England. Four fast bowlers on that wicket out there if there is a bit of assistance could be the way we go."
England have not beaten Australia in 14 one-day internationals although they came close when the teams last met at the World Cup in South Africa last year before going down to a two-wicket defeat.
Nevertheless, Vaughan insisted his team had not been psychologically scarred by failing to achieve a one-day win against Australia since 1999. "Look at our team, not many of our players were involved in those 14 defeats.
"If we maintain our standard we will certainly put Australia under some pressure. But we also realise they've just beaten a good Kiwi side and within 20 overs they (New Zealand) were out of the game."
Ponting said at the heart of Australia's consistent success was their ability to treat all matches alike. "It's another game of cricket. That's the way we are approaching it."
He added all his players bar left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg (strained left hamstring tendon), who played county cricket at Edgbaston for Warwickshire this season, were fit.
On Sunday, England fast bowler Stephen Harmison ruled himself out of November's tour to Zimbabwe, where the team are due to play five one-day internationals, on moral and sporting grounds.
But Vaughan said he did not expect Harmison's decision to have any negative impact on the bowler or the team.
"I hope it doesn't affect his performance because his performances for us have been phenomenal for a year and one good performance tomorrow could see us through to a final.
"Just because Steve Harmison has come out and said that, there won't be any split in our camp."