Andrew Flintoff Retires

Andrew Flintoff has called time on his cricket career after a knee injury has hampered him for the last three years.

Flintoff revealed that he was facing yet another operation if he was to play again but the England all rounder, aged thirty two, decided to retire rather than go under the knife once again.

"It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am today announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket," he said in a statement.

"The decision to end my career came yesterday after consultation with medical advisers.

"I was told that the problems I have been trying to overcome in rehab for the last year following the latest in a series of operations would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback.

"Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative but to retire."

Flintoff has not played since the fifth test of the Ashes last summer after undergoing knee surgery, only to have another operation back in January.

Throughout all of his injury set backs Flintoff planned to return to action, plans for him to play in August were shelved, and he thanked everyone who have been there throughout his career.

"I would like to thank my family, Lancashire Cricket Club, England, all my sponsors, friends and advisers for all the help and support they have given me throughout my career.

"Last, but by no means least, I am indebted to the encouragement and support I have always received from England's magnificent supporters.

"I will now be taking a break before deciding which future direction to take."

During his career Flintoff played seventh nine test matches scoring 3,845 runs, five centuries, and took 226 wickets.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw