Flintoff to make comeback by next month

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, June 4 (ANI): England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who retired from test cricket in 2009 after helping England regain the Ashes from Australia, is expected to return to action for his county club Lancashire by July or August.

Flintoff, 32, has been recuperating since undergoing reconstructive knee surgery after the final test at the Oval and is still ambitious to represent England in one-day cricket.

He had initially targeted England’s one-day series in Bangladesh in February for his comeback, but had to abandon that plan while conducting his rehabilitation in Dubai, Stuff.co.nz reports.

“Fred was with us last week and he had a long interview with Mike Watkinson (the cricket manager at Lancashire) and he said he is on course,” Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes told reporters.

“He is full of enthusiasm. It’s amazing that with the time he has been out he is still able to plough on. We are hoping to have him back by the end of July or start of August,” Cumbers added. (ANI)

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Cricket in UK schools ‘less elitist and more ethnically diverse than in past’: Survey

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 20(ANI): A new survey has revealed that cricket in the UK has become less elitist and more ethnically diverse than in the past, with it growing in popularity among kids in state schools.

The survey was conducted by the ‘Chance to Shine’ foundation, which has brought cricket to a million schoolchildren across the UK. The results were based on an online YouGov survey of 993 parents of children aged 8 to 17.

When asked whether ‘cricket has become less elitist’ than when they were at school, three times as many parents of children at state schools polled strongly agreed (42 percent), compared to those that strongly disagreed with the statement (13 percent).

Twenty-four mums polled said that cricket is now offered as a team sport to girls at their child’s school, twice the number that say the “gentleman’s game” was an option for them when they were at school (11 percent).

It also showed that a whopping 72 percent of parents believed playing cricket could improve their child’s grades.

Meanwhile, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff explained why he has been backing the foundation.

“Cricket in state schools was in real danger of dying out before Chance to shine launched in 2005,” The Sun quoted Flintoff, as saying.

“I believe every child has the right to play competitive cricket at school and to learn skills that they can use throughout their lives,” he added. (ANI)

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Flintoff likely to play for Queensland in Australia’s T20 Big Bash

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 18 (ANI): Injured all rounder Andrew Flintoff, who has still not given up hope of returning to England’s limited-overs team, is all set to play in an Australian domestic Twenty20 tournament.

Flintoff, 32, who watched England secure a historic win over the Aussies in the World Twenty20 final, is scheduled to play for Lancashire in late July.

He has been approached by three Australian states to play in the Big Bash tournament, with Queensland being his likely destination, The Sun reports.

The tournament clashes with the one-day series versus Australia in January, which builds up to the 2011 World Cup in Indian subcontinent.

But Flintoff admitted that he faces a battle to get into the England’s side following their recent success. (ANI)

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Flintoff admits to missing Test cricket

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Dubai, Mar 27(ANI): Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff says he is missing playing Test cricket.

Flintoff, who had an operation last August after England regained The Ashes, is not expected to play until July at the earliest after undergoing further surgery in January.

“I’m retired. I’ve retired from Test cricket. I am missing playing Test cricket, but every player who’s retired will say the same thing. They’re always willing to play again. I’d love to still be able to play,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Flintoff, as saying.

“It was a decision that had to be made. My last Test match was at The Oval, me on the podium having played a part in winning the Ashes. I’ll sit back and watch it from now on,” he added.

The 32-year-old further hopes to pick up a bat next month and get back on the field with Lancashire by the end of July.

He believes the next step after Lancashire, would be getting back into the English dressing room.

“It will be back to normal. Absolutely. There”s no done deals, but I”m confident of it. I”ll get back in the Lancashire side first and I believe that, playing well and being fit, I get to England’s one-day and Twenty20 side,” Flintoff added.

Flintoff had announced his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes series, but made himself available for future commitments in ODI and Twenty20 international games. (ANI)

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Bresnan can fill in Andrew Flintoff’s boots

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 26 (ANI): England coach Andy Flower has heaped praise on Tim Bresnan for his starring role in the one-day and Test series wins over Bangladesh, and said the Yorkshire all-rounder has what it takes to fill Andrew Flintoff’s boots.

Bresnan, 25, has demonstrated an uncanny familiarity with the attributes Flintoff showed when he rose to the top in the middle of the last decade.

Flower is expected to revert to four bowlers this summer, Bresnan’s 91 in the second Test has seen the England coach earmark him as a future world-class all-rounder, The Sun reports.

He said: “Bresnan was the stand-out bowler here. He’s been skilful with reverse swing and accurate with a heavy bouncer. He’s hard physically too. The experience he got playing a part in our wins was valuable.

“I was happy with his batting too. He managed his innings well and built it. He’s not had many chances and I’d like to see him develop it more. His defence was very good. I don’t know if he can do that in more pressing situations, we’ll have to see.”

Although Bangladesh may represent the weakest opponents during Flower’s 12-month tenure as full-time England coach, he said his side is improving.

“If I’m honest, we’ve a way to go before we catch the world’s best sides. We know that from our standing in the rankings at No 5. There is a lot of hard work and thought that must go into making us a far stronger unit.

“We have a busy schedule with the World Twenty20, Bangladesh and Pakistan before Australia next winter. While the next Ashes are important, we must win along the way to build the confidence needed,” Flower said. (ANI)

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England can avoid 7-0 drubbing in NatWest Series: Anderson

September 20, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 19(ANI): England paceman James Anderson has said that the England team would be looking forward to avoid a humiliating 7-0 whitewash against Australia in the NatWest Series.

England team has been out of sorts after the historic Ashes series win, and in the absence of experienced players like Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen they have not been able to prevent Australians from taking a 6-0 lead.

“Obviously, we don’t want to lose 7-0. There’ll be a lot of pride to play for on Sunday. We’re very disappointed with the way we’ve played in this series, we’ve never really clicked. But, we’re leaving for the Champions Trophy in South Africa on Monday and we can look forward to that as a fresh start,” The Sun quoted Anderson, as saying.

“The vast majority of us in the dressing room still believe we can beat Australia and think that 6-0 flatters them a bit,” he added.

The 27-year-old further said that Australians have taken note of England’s weaknesses and have been able to take advantage of it.

“Throughout the series, it seems as though we’ve tried to make it look as complicated as possible. I suppose when confidence is low as a batting team, it affects everything, not just shot selection,” Anderson said.

England will now be playing for pride in the final contest at Chester-le-Street on Sunday. (ANI)

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Flintoff to coach UAE cricket team for six months

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 18(ANI): England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff will be coaching the United Arab Emirates national team during the period that he recovers from knee surgery.

“A partnership has been agreed with Dubai Sports City to use their gym and facilities as a base for his rehabilitation. In return he will be carrying out some coaching for the UAE national team over the next six months,” The Independent quoted Andrew Chandler, Flintoff’s agent, as saying.

Consistently rated amongst the top international all-rounders in both ODI and Test cricket, Flintoff had announced his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes series, but made himself available for future commitments in One Day International and Twenty20 International matches.

Flintoff’s career has also been marred with injuries due to his heavy frame and bowling action. He recently had surgery on his knee, which had been troubling him for long, and last week he had moved to Dubai, where he hopes to open a cricket academy.

“His partnership with Sports City will also help raise the profile of his Dubai academy,” Chandler added. (ANI)

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Flintoff’s decision to reject ECB contract will benefit Chennai Super Kings

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Sep 18 (ANI): The Indian Premier League would be benefited after Andrew Flintoff rejected the ECB contract, said Chennai Super Kings, the team the England all rounder plays for in the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings manager VB Chandrasekhar said Flintoff’s decision to reject the contract would greatly benefit Chennai, but only if he was fit.

“But the thing is,” he said, “it’s not just about what a cricketer can give on the field. ‘Fred gives us a full package – in terms of marketing he is very valuable. Last time he was of great value to our dressing room, even when he wasn’t playing; someone of that aura can lift the team,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

The development comes amid bizarre reasoning by his manager, Andrew Chandler, that Flintoff rejected the ECB contract because he might have to go “bungee jumping”.

With Flintoff’s troubled injury history and the unproven results of his radical treatment in Dubai, any further damage to his knee could be career-threatening and he may be forced to pay for his own treatment.

The Super Kings pay Flintoff 1.55 million dollars a season and expressed sympathy with his plight, saying they may pay for rehabilitation depending on the circumstances, but did not guarantee it.

“There is a rule that says if it is a pre-existing injury, then the IPL team is not liable,” Chandrasekhar said.

“If you have taken a player in and if it is a serious injury and has occurred during the IPL, sometimes you have to weigh that up. We pay him on a match-to-match basis,” he added.

Under the IPL regulations, players must declare previous injuries, but Chennai is fully aware of the well-publicised knee problem that kept Flintoff out of the fourth Ashes Test.

Flintoff’s IPL future after 2010 is also in doubt, as he requires a No-Objection Certificate from the ECB. Granting him one would set a dangerous precedent for the board, as other players could follow his lead – precisely what the certificate is designed to prevent. (ANI)

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Clark hopes next generation of Oz cricketers value country above the dollar

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Sep.17 (ANI): Experienced Australian seamer Stuart Clark has warned that he can only hope the next generation of Australian cricketers values playing for their country ahead of chasing the almighty dollar on offer in the Indian Premier League and next month’s Champions League.

Skipper Ricky Ponting, who said he expected more people to follow in the footsteps of English all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and pursue the shorter version of the game, backed up Clark.

According to the Daily Telegraph, former one-day star Michael Bevan also weighed into the money-v-country debate when he questioned how much longer cricketers would be prepared to support the Test scene now that there were lucrative alternatives.

“What scares me the most is where does it leave the game if people just go chasing large sums of money for a bit of hit-and-giggle,” Clark told The Big Sports Breakfast.

“I think we as players all owe it to Test cricket to try and keep it afloat. I know the administration is working hard at it, but I personally hold grave fears for where the game is heading,” he added.

Clark said he had noticed youngsters at NSW getting excited about the money at next month’s Champions League in India, which offers a three million dollar purse to the winner and could earn the players 130,000 dollars each – the equivalent of a top-end state contract.

Ponting said more players could snub Test cricket to copy Flintoff.

“I think it probably could happen more and more especially with guys retiring from Test match cricket and wanting to play only the shorter versions of the game,” he said.

Bevan, who scored nearly 7000 runs in 232 one-dayers for Australia, told The Daily Telegraph: “I’d like to hope there is a strong allegiance shown by the players to Test cricket, but up until what point they continue to do that I’m not sure.” (ANI)

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Flintoff’s ECB contract rejection threatens Test cricket, but he plays it down

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.17 (ANI): All-rounder Andrew Flintoff may have unwittingly incited the break-up of international cricket by his refusal of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) incremental contract, but he has played down reports of a possible backlash.

Flintoff has assured that his rejection of an England increment contract, a second tier deal offered to him because of his retirement from Test cricket, did not lessen his commitment to England. The all-rounder, who is Dubai undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery, made it clear that he has no intention of missing any England games should they clash with matches in the various Twenty20 franchise competitions he also hopes to be part of.

Although Flintoff has put all negotiations on hold while he recovers he is known to have been in preliminary talks with teams in Australia, where their revamped Twenty20 competition is to be called the Big Bash and South Africa, where the Pro20 is easily the most popular professional cricket in the country.

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said yesterday that other players would join Flintoff in rejecting national deals and that there may be a rash of early retirements from international cricket.

“I think there will be a lot of serious discussion in Johannesburg later this month among the parties and between the parties. I can’t overestimate its importance. In the space of a few weeks we have had two leading players withdrawing from components of the international game, Andrew Flintoff from Tests and Ricky Ponting, from Twenty20 internationals,” The Telegraph quoted Morris, as saying.

Flintoff’s move may stimulate more than debate.

England captain Andrew Strauss was mildly surprised by the decision.

“I’m not going to sit in judgement of him because we don’t know the reasons. We need to sit down and speak to him about why he’s done this and we’ll then make an informed decision about what that means to his availability for England,” he said. (ANI)

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Ponting believes more players will be going freelance

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Nottingham (UK), Sep.16 (ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting expects more cricketers to follow Andrew Flintoff and Andrew Symonds in going freelance.

Flintoff has rejected an incremental contract with his country and is reportedly been the target of interest from South Australia and Northerns in South Africa.

Symonds is considering Twenty20 options around the world after his national career stalled because of disciplinary issues.

Ponting said while he didn’t know the reasons behind Flintoff’s decision, but he expected other players to go down that road.

“I think it probably could happen more and more especially with guys retiring from Test match cricket and wanting to play only the shorter versions of the game,” The Australian quoted Ponting, as saying.

“You can’t begrudge the players for doing that, especially someone like Flintoff, who’s played 70-odd Test matches and it’s his body that’s basically forced him into retirement from Test cricket anyway,” he added.

Ponting said it would be interesting to see whether England continued to select Flintoff once he recovers from knee surgery. (ANI)

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Pietersen making slow recovery from Achilles surgery

September 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 14(ANI): England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said that he is making a slow and steady recovery from the Achilles tendon surgery and is targeting a return to action during England’s South Africa.

“I saw a couple of surgeons during the week and it is very slow at the moment. I’ve got an open wound in my leg and I’m only truly hoping to get back in time for the tour to South Africa,” The Mirror quoted Pietersen, as saying.

The 29-year-old has suffered complications in his recovery from the Achilles surgery that forced him out of the last three Ashes Tests, the seven match ODI series against Australia and the Champions Trophy.

Following absence of experienced players like Pietersen, all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and wicketkeeper Matt Prior due to injury, the inexperienced team is in dire straits in the seven match ODI series, where Australia have taken an unassailable 4-0 lead. (ANI)

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Flintoff’s England contract won’t hinder his IPL windfall

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 14(ANI): The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have admitted that despite the incremental contract, they would not be able to stop star cricketer Andrew Flintoff from hawking his cricketing talents around the world.

Flintoff had announced his retirement from Test cricket at the conclusion of the 2009 Ashes series, and under the terms and conditions of the new contract, he must only make himself available for all short-form matches. Outside that, England team director Andy Flower can no longer demand where and when he plays, but only make requests to the all-rounder, The Mirror reports.

It means that once Flintoff recovers from his knee injury he would be free to sign lucrative contracts with Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings, Lancashire and England.

The new contract is also an encouraging sign for Flintoff’s agent Andrew Chandler, who has been in negotiations with local teams from Australia, South Africa and the West Indies for the all-rounder’s services. (ANI)

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Aussies hold momentum in ODI series against England, says Lee

September 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Southampton (UK), Sep.9 (ANI): Speedster Brett Lee is of the view that the Australians are holding the momentum in the current seven-match ODI series against England and must make it 3-0 on Wednesday at Southampton’s Rose Bowl.

“Momentum in a series is huge. We’ve got to make sure we capitalise on that, but make sure we don’t look too far ahead at what we’ve achieved so far because we’ve got five more important matches. If we can be 3-0 up going back down to Lord’s then we’re in a pretty good spot, I would have thought,” Lee said.

The teams meet again on Saturday in London, where Australia won by four runs at The Oval and 39 runs at Lord’s.

England will be without Stuart Broad after he suffered a neck strain in the one-day series opener on Friday, which ruled him out of the second game.

The hosts have also felt the loss Andrew Flintoff.

“What Andrew brings to the game, he’s got that x-factor. He brings that to the game and possibly, quite possibly, when he’s not around, that aura that he would bring to the team is obviously not there,” Lee said.

Having missed Australia’s entire Ashes campaign, Lee has impressed with some fiery pace during the limited overs series. (ANI)

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Broad not keen on taking Flintoff’s place in Test team

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 8 (ANI): England’s Ashes hero Stuart Broad doesn’t want to replicate all rounder Andrew Flintoff in his life and is not even that keen on taking Flintoff’s place at No.7 in the Test team.

“No one can replace Fred. It is important that I focus on my qualities and don’t try to be someone I’m not,” Broad said.

Despite scoring five fifties in his 22-Test career, two of them in the Ashes, and having a respectable batting average of 31, Broad plays down that side of his game.

“My aim is to become a good No 8. If the top six build a platform that allows me and Graeme Swann to come and play with freedom as we did at the Oval. I just want to be awkward to bowl at,” The Times quoted Broad, as saying.

Flintoff has said that Broad’s batting is good enough to play as a specialist batsman and Geoff Boycott, praising the straight play of Broad, compared him to a young Garry Sobers, saying that Broad could make the same journey as Sobers from tailender.

“I don’t think I can average 40 in Test cricket. That’s a huge ask, even for recognised batsmen,” Broad said.

The modest Nottinghamshire all-rounder really wants is to spend a night in his own bed and maybe hang a shelf or two.

“I bought a house six months ago and I’ve only spent about 20 nights there. When we have finished with these one-day games and the Champions Trophy, all I’m looking forward to is 2-3 weeks at home and a bit of decorating before we go to South Africa.”

Andrew Flintoff is reportedly having six feet mosaics of the Ashes urn installed in the swimming pools, but Broad’s ambition extends no farther than getting house painted.

Nor does he plan to decorate his body, Flintoff-style. “My mum would never let me in the house again if I had a tattoo,” he said. (ANI)

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Flintoff suffering from deep vein thrombosis post surgery

September 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep.7 (ANI): England cricket hero Andrew Flintoff is suffering from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf after knee surgery.

The 31-year-old all-rounder underwent an operation following the conclusion of this summer’s Ashes tournament.

A Sky News report said Flintoff could be sidelined for a minimum of six months.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: “Andrew Flintoff recently suffered a common complication of surgery, a minor deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. This will require a simple course of treatment and will not complicate his recovery from surgery.”

Flintoff retired from test cricket after playing in four of the five Ashes tests against Australia. England won the series 2-1.

He had announced his retirement before the second test at Lord’s following the latest in a series of career-threatening injuries.

But ‘Freddie’ is hoping to continue playing one-day and Twenty20 internationals. (ANI)

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Flower confident of Pietersen recovering before South African tour

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 3 (ANI): England cricket team director Andy Flower has expressed confidence that injured batsman Kevin Pietersen will make a full recovery and would return for the tour of South Africa.

Pietersen was forced out of the Ashes series following an Achilles injury, and has suffered a further setback after developing an infection in the scar tissue making him unavailable for the ODI series against Australia.

“He is still struggling a little with that wound in his Achilles. I spoke to him yesterday but I think we are confident in saying he will be back for South Africa,” The Independent quoted Flower, as saying.

Flower further said that he has advised Peitersen to use the time as a break from the busy schedule of an international cricket player.

“Sometimes you never know what is good or bad luck. It is enforced time away and he didn’t want it and we didn’t want it, but since it’s there and there is nothing anyone can do about it, I think he has got to make the most of it,” Flower said.

“I think that is what he is doing. He is spending time with his family and his wife and getting a break from the international game,” he added.

Flower also said that he was unsure about all-rounder Andrew Flintoff’s career, who had underwent a knee surgery after the Ashes series.

“If he can come back and play one-day international and Twenty20 cricket for us and bat at six or seven and bowl like he can bowl, that will make us a force to be reckoned with in one-day cricket,” Flower said.

“Whether he will or not I don’t know, I just hope he does,” he added. (ANI)

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‘Dire Prior’ finally earns recognition following Ashes victory

September 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 3 (ANI): Wicketkeeper Matt Prior says he has proved the selectors right, both with the bat, as well as through his flawless work behind the stumps, as England sealed a 2-1 Ashes victory over Australia.

Dubbed ‘Dire Prior’ by England legend Bob Willis before the series, the 27-year-old turned in some excellent performances to help win back the little urn.

Speaking to All Out Cricket magazine, Prior said: “I don’t want people noticing me because that means they are still talking about me in the job.”

“It’s been a goal of mine to get to a place where the keeping position wasn’t discussed and I knew the only way to get to that was putting in good performances with the bat and gloves,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

“The scrutiny that the England wicketkeeper is under is massive but it’s something I have to take on the chin and know that if I do drop a ball, no matter how difficult it might be, it is going to get looked at from every angle. And once I got over that realisation – I found that I could get on with my job,” Prior added.

Prior’s personal highlight this summer was the 115-run win at Lord’s.

His keeping saw just nine byes conceded in the Test, compared to a whopping 31 for Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

With the bat, a 42-ball 61 in the second innings set up the victory charge for Andrew Flintoff and Co as they skittled the Aussies.

And after seeing the wickets tumble at the home of cricket on day five, Prior added: “You play a county game at Lord’s and you think ‘wow, this is incredible’.

“Then you play a Test match there and you think ‘this is what it’s all about’ – playing there with that Test match buzz – it’s a completely different atmosphere. And then you play an Ashes Test and you think ‘this is unbelievable’.

“And then you win an Ashes Test match at Lord’s after turning up on the last day, with thousands of fans unable to get in. The noise in the Long Room when we walked out was just astounding,” he said. (ANI)

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Flintoff wants 6,000 pounds Ashes urn mosaics in his swimming pools

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 30 (ANI): England all rounder Andrew Flintoff is stumping up 6,000 pounds to have two giant mosaics of the Ashes urn built into the bottom of his swimming pools.

The England all-rounder is including two pools in the basement of the 4 million pounds mansion he’s having built.

He was so bowled over by his Ashes triumphs against the Aussies that he hired craftsmen to create 6ft tile mosaics of the coveted old trophy to go on the pool bottoms.

Freddie, 31, planned the 3,000 pound-a-piece works before England clinched their latest Ashes triumph at The Oval.

But after last week’s victory he had the years 2005 and 2009 added to recall both series wins, News of the World reported.

“Freddie wanted the urn mosaics because that 2005 Ashes win was so special to him. Then when he and the lads took the Ashes again he decided to have the dates added as well,” a pal of the Lancashire star revealed.

“Every time he takes a dip he’ll be able to savour the glory once more. And if he ever puts the house on the market it’ll be a unique selling point – unless the buyer’s an Aussie!”

Freddie, who has just retired from Test cricket, is over-seeing construction of the house in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire.

He bought the former home of Man City boss Mark Hughes for 1.85 million pounds, had it demolished and is spending two million pounds on a six-bedroom home for himself, wife Rachael and their three children. (ANI)

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2,500-pound machine strapped around Flintoof’s knee to save his cricket career

August 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Aug 30 (ANI): England all rounder Andrew Flintoff is praying that the 2,500 pound machine strapped around his knee will save his cricket career.

The Lancashire all-rounder has to strap himself to the contraption for eight hours every day as he starts his gruelling rehabilitation from his latest operation.

The state-of-the-art Continuous Passive Motion equipment was prescribed by surgeon Andy Williams and is designed to bend the 31-year-old Ashes hero’s knee up to 1,500 times a day, News of the World reported.

“I had a choice of either using this machine or doing three sets of 500 knee bends a day, so I thought the machine might be the way forward. I strap my leg into it for eight hours a day. It bends my knee up and down all the time and makes sure the movement is controlled,” Flintoff revealed.

“I will have the machine on most of the time, even when I’m sleeping. The hard part is getting used to having your leg strapped into a machine for most of the day. It’s designed to help with the healing but, inevitably, my right leg is going to waste away a bit and the muscles are going to disappear. There’s not a lot I can do about it because I can’t bear any weight on my right leg for six to eight weeks.”

Flintoff underwent keyhole surgery in London on Monday night – just a day after helping England beat Australia at the Oval to regain the Ashes.

It was the second op on his troublesome knee and the ninth of his career, following four on his left ankle, two for hernias and another on his back.

Flintoff announced his retirement from Test cricket during the Ashes after admitting his 16-stone body could no longer cope with five-day cricket.

“I have set myself a target of returning for the tour to Bangladesh, which is from mid-Febuary to the middle of March, but whether that’s realistic or not, I’m not sure,” admitted Flintoff.

“There is a possibility I may not play again. It’s something I’m going to have to be prepared for in case the operation is not as successful as I hope. There will be a question mark in my mind about whether I have played my last game until I know how the operation has turned out.

“I’d be lying if I said it hadn’t crossed my mind, but the success rate for an operation like this is pretty good,” the paper quoted him, as saying. (ANI)

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