Ben Stokes is poised to lead the team in the first Test against West Indies on July 8 with captain Joe Root likely to miss the game to attend the birth of his second child.
Although Flintoff has the makings of a great leader, he will still need all the support of his senior players if England are to retain the Ashes, Strauss said.
Rajneesh Gupta presents all the interesting numbers from the first day of the India-England Test at Trent Bridge.
Approaching each Test match as if it were his last helped England batsman Andrew Strauss to forget his poor run of form and score his 11th test century on Monday.
The left-hander said the senior players in the England team must ensure captain Andrew Flintoff does not overexert himself with the ball during the Ashes.
Liam Plunkett took three wickets as England scored their first major victory of the Pakistan tour with a 42-run win in the opening ODI.
Pakistan produced a fine bowling performance to restrict England to 248 for six despite a battling 71 from Paul Collingwood on the first day of the third Test on Tuesday.
The England opener would be returning home to be with his wife, who is pregnant and close to delivery
England beat Pakistan by three wickets in the fifth and final ODI.
England beat Pakistan in the fourth ODI to keep alive their hopes of squaring the series.
The leg-spinner said that 700 wickets is a possibility as long as he retained his enthusiasm for the game.
Andrew Strauss made 98 and Andrew Flintoff took four wickets as England swept past Bangladesh with five wickets to spare in Sunday's triangular series one-dayer to set up a final against Australia.
'These guys are not thugs'
Venugopal Rao and VRV Singh were included in India's playing eleven for the sixth ODI against England.
Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie has held talks with the England and Wales Cricket Board about coaching the national team, he said on Saturday.
Andrew Strauss rubbed salt on India's wounds by saying that England would have any way batted first had captain they won the toss
England will draft in former international off-spinner Robert Croft to assist their slow bowlers during the five-match One-Day International series in South Africa starting on February 3.
Wisden named Strauss, Giles, Harmison, Trescothick and Robert Key as the five cricketers of the year
Chasing a target of 198, England were bowled out for 175 by Pakistan in the first Test
England, chasing 198 to win the first Test against Pakistan, were 24 for 1 at close on day 4.
The more Shane Warne demons we can get in England's dressing room the better, said Justin Langer
Heavier balls to blame for slower game: Nadal
Paul Collingwood hit a hundred and claimed six wickets as England beat Bangladesh by 168 runs in the tri-series.
From the English media to social networking websites, 'devastated' Kevin Pietersen found support from all quarters.
The New Zealand skipper scored 99 in a six-wicket win over England.
England beat the West Indies by seven wickets in the one-day tri-series.
Pace bowler James Anderson has returned to the 12-man England squad for the third and final Test against New Zealand.
He replaces Nasser Hussain, who retired last week after his unbeaten century in the first Test at Lord's.
The England captain hurt his right knee facing a delivery from a member of the MCC groundstaff in the nets at Lord's.
West Indies lead in the weather-disrupted series 2-1 with the final match scheduled for Barbados on Wednesday.