Flintoff calls time on his cricketing career

London: Andrew Flintoff announced on Thursday his retirement from all cricket in a statement released by the player’s management company.

“It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am today (Thursday) announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket,” former England captain Flintoff said in a statement released by International Sports Management.

“The decision to end my career came yesterday (Wednesday) after consultation with medical advisers,” added the 32-year-old all-rounder, who quit the Test format after helping England regain the Ashes last year.

“I was told that the problems I have been trying to overcome in re-hab 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.

“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.”

Flintoff, who has been widely tipped to follow the path of fellow ex-England skippers Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan by pursuing a media career, added: “I will now be taking a break before deciding which future direction to take.”