Andrew Flintoff has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket .The injury-plagued all-rounder, 32, revealed the decision after consultation with some medical advisers.
He said: "Having been told my body would no longer stand up to the challenges of cricket, I had no alternative."
The Lancashire star played a key role in England's Ashes successes of 2005 and 2009 but had been plagued by knee problems for years.
He added in a statement: "I was told the problems I have been trying to overcome in rehab for the last year, following the latest of a series of operations, would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback.
"Last, but by no means least, I am indebted to the encouragement and support I have always received from England's magnificent supporters.
Flintoff retired from Test cricket at the end of the 2009 Ashes series, having another knee operation two days later, while turning down the offer of a new central contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
However, he repeatedly expressed his desire "to be the best one-day player in the world" and underlined his continued commitment to his country for limited-overs matches.
In 79 Tests, he scored 3,845 runs with five centuries and captured 226 wickets.
Born in Preston, Flintoff made his reputation in schoolboy cricket as a hard-hitting right-hander and right-arm fast bowler, nicknamed "Freddie" after cartoon character Fred Flintstone, and he made his Test debut against South Africa in July 1998 at the age of 20.
In his early career, he was often criticised for seemingly carrying too much weight and his famous response was to celebrate a one-day international victory over India in Mumbai in 2002 by removing his shirt and waving it above his head.
Injuries had deprived him of the chance to play against Australia in his early England career but as the side grew in confidence, the Lancastrian's finest hour came in 2005.
England won an epic series 2-1, and Flintoff's heroic performances earned him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Flintoff was chosen ahead of Andrew Strauss as captain for England's ill-fated 2006/07 Ashes defence in Australia.
The tourists slumped to a humiliating 5-0 defeat, while the England Coach Duncan Fletcher later revealed that he had to discipline the Flintoff for turning up to a practice session when he was hung over.
Flintoff's off-field behaviour also hit the headlines at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, when he was stripped of the vice-captaincy after a drunken late-night escapade in St Lucia involving a pedalo - memorably dubbed the 'Fredalo' incident.
‘Freddie’ Flintoff has had a terrific cricketing career and will always be known as one of the true greats in English cricket.
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