Andrew Flintoff retires from cricket after injury problems
Published:Andrew Flintoff has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after consultations with medical advisors.
The all-rounder who spearheaded England’s 2005 Ashes victory had become a national icon and cricket will be sad to see the back of a player who captured so many people’s attention.
The 32-year old said, “Having been told my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative.”
Flintoff had retired from Test cricket after England’s 2009 Ashes victory over Australia, a dodgy knee put paid to any thoughts of signing a new central contract with the ECB, and underlined his commitment to be the best one day player in the world.
But after seeking rehabilitation for his knee injuries in Dubai earlier this year, he was forced to call off a comeback for his home county Lancashire and despite signing a contract with Chennai Super-Kings, he hasn’t played since that 2009 Ashes series.
It was unlikely that he would’ve made the squad for the Ashes series in Australia this winter, a series England are 9/4 to win, but Chennai Super-Kings will have to make do without him for the Twenty20 Champions League, a tournament they are 11/4 favourites to win.
The Super-Kings can still call on the likes of Michael Hussey, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Muttiah Muralitharan to help them top Group A, they are 8/13 to do so, and their main rivals are the South African side Warriors who are 6/4 to top the group.
The T20 Champions League is taking place in South Africa and Mumbai Indians take on Guyana today with the Indian team very solid 1/16 favourites to win.
Mumbai Indians are 25/1 to win the tournament. See the full T20 Champions League betting market here.
