'Flintoff was an inspiration'

The sudden announcement of Andrew Flintoff's decision to retire from Test cricket after the Ashes has shocked the English cricket fraternity.

England captain Andrew Strauss was left "disappointed" by Flintoff's decision to retire from Test cricket after the Ashes, but said he would be remembered for a personality that brought a new audience to cricket.

"From a players point of view it is not a great surprise. We are very disappointed by it and we feel for him as he is still a young guy but he knew his body more than anyone. It was kind of the obvious decision to come to," Strauss said.

"He has had a dramatic effect on world cricket: the way he took the game to the opposition and the whole-hearted manner of his bowling. He has always contributed one way or another to the team when he hasn't taken wickets or scored runs. It is pretty hard not to be impressed by the way he played the game."

"He's had all these operations; he's come back and keeps trying to reach the standard of 2005. After the last operation, this series was going to be it. I saw him in the winter, and he just thought there was no way he could get back to the standard of 2005.

"He'll give it one last blast against Australia; see if he can win the Ashes one more time. It was always his dream - it's his passion to play against them."

Former England skipper Graham Gooch said that it was big loss for England cricket while former fast bowler Angus Fraser felt that Flintoff "is one of those players you get everything from."

"Andrew is one of those players you get everything from. You watch him bowling on a lifeless pitch against top Indian batsmen under a cloudless sky - and the bloke just runs in and gives you his all over and over.

"Eighty per cent or 75% of what he wants to be is not enough. He puts his body on the line all the time, and if he cannot commit to that I suppose it just makes his mind up," Fraser was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

Gooch, however, wasn't surprised with Flintoff's decision and said: "I think he's one of many Test players to come who will decide to retire because the workload with Test, one-day and Twenty20 cricket. In these modern times he's the first to go for these reasons. It is a big loss for English cricket, because he has a presence about him."

Unlike Gooch, David Gower was shocked to hear the decision.

"It came as a surprise to hear the news today. When you hear about it you can understand why - I just hope it's the prelude to six weeks of merry mayhem. There is no right or wrong time to retire. The great thing is that if you do make a decision now there is a defined ending rather than it dragging on until the end of the series," Gower said.

The 31-year-old Flintoff announced Wednesday, on the eve of the second Test against Australia at Lord's, that we would retire from Test cricket after the end of the series.

He said this decision will now help him to extend his One-day and Twenty20 career. Since making his Test debut at the age of 20, Flintoff has been struggling with his persistent back, hip and groin problems and also underwent four ankle operations.

Flintoff has missed 25 of England's last 48 Tests and is even doubtful for the second Test against England at Lord's from Thursday. He aggravated his knee injury while bowling in the first Test at Cardiff and Monday took some injections as a desperate measure to get fit for the second Test.

Last updated on Jul 15^th, 2009 at 20:04 pm IST--IANS