Though many expected that the day would soon come, cricket fans throughout the world were still shocked by the news on Thursday (Sept 16), that Flintoff had taken the careful decision to leave the sport he loved, due to the prolonged troubles, caused by a knee injury.

He had already retired from test cricket in 2009, following the Ashes series against Australia, indicating then that he wanted to concentrate only on the shorter versions of the game, especially T20s. Followed the Ashes he was forced immediately into surgery for his knee problems.

Flintoff told reporters that he had hope to return to play in some T20 matches in Australia and the IPL, but he changed his mind last month, as his medical worries persisted. The ultimate decision was made after recent consultations with his doctors.

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

“It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am today announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket,” said Flintoff.

“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 re-hab for the last year following the latest in a series of operations would not recover sufficiently to allow a

Flintoff ends his career with a Test tally of 3,845 runs and 226 wickets at 32.78, with three 5 wicket hauls. His best score was 167 against the West Indies in 2004, at Edgbaston.

He played in 141 One day Internationals, finishing with 169 wickets and 3394 runs.

Flintoff finishes his career with a tally of 3845 runs in 79 Tests, at an average of 31.77 with five centuries and a best of 167 against West Indies at Edgbaston in 2004. He also claimed 226 wickets at 32.78, with three five-wicket hauls, the last of which came on an emotional final morning against Australia at Lord’s in 2009. In 141 ODIs he finished with 3394 runs and 169 wickets respectively.