Byline: Ian Botham
IT COMES as no surprise to me that Freddie Flintoff has reached the only sensible decision he can about his body and his cricket - because we discussed it six months ago.
For years he has been flogging himself in gyms, hospitals and treatment rooms all over the world and it simply could not go on forever.
It hurts the mind as well as the body and I think he has made a brave but ultimately correct decision.
I don't mind admitting that six months ago I had a chat with him and said if he could get the Ashes out of the way and give it one last push through the pain barrier, he should then consider leaving Test cricket behind.
We had the discussion because injuries were really starting to get him down. It had got to the point where the effort, stress and strain he was going through just to get out on the pitch was outweighing the time in the middle, and that's wrong.
We had a long talk about it and he was starting to look seriously at the options, but at the time it was just an idea. This latest knee injury has clearly made him think a little harder about what I said to him and he has realised this is the only way for him to go.
The timing of the decision is one that might have a few question marks over it, but once it is made it is made and there is no point trying to hide it. You just get on with business.
It is a loss to England, but you have to be realistic about it and say that if he wants to be a part of international cricket then the one-day game is the place where he will have to make his impact from now on.
It is a big shame because I'm sure there are thousands if not millions out there who, just like me, love watching Fred play in the Test arena. But if we want to see more of him in an England shirt it will have to be a coloured one.
At the end of the day he has to do what is right for him. He does all the training, he gets himself fit, but his body just can't take five days of Test cricket.
Now he won't have to play every day of the week he will be able to rest and recover properly between matches and we should still see a lot more of him.
It has been tough battle for him with injuries and it's been nothing short of a miracle at times to see him out there bowling like the wind even though his body is at breaking point, and that is a testament to him. I can think of so many examples where he has gone beyond the call of duty, but just think back to the Ashes in Australia in 2006-07 when he flogged himself as captain despite ankle problems and then just this winter in Antigua when he bowled on and on despite a hip injury.
Fred has given his all in the white shirt for England and enough is enough - but not before the Australians are given one last hurry up by the big man and what an incentive for him to go out with a bang.
There is no question he will want to end his Test career with something special and what can be more special than putting your feet up with the Ashes sat beside you. He's done it before and why not again.
Fred will always be remembered for and associated with the 2005 Ashes - that was the big one for him. Throughout that summer he was the leader of the pack and was able to do almost anything he wanted on a cricket field. He was the finest all-rounder in the world and showed just what an awesome impact he could make when everything was in working order. His batting, bowling and fielding were in perfect harmony and that can never be taken away from him.
Since then the body has let him down and you can't keep shoving needles into a bloke and expect him to be fine. I think he's done the right thing and it gets the thumbs up from me.
I can also see him not playing any county championship cricket either and just being a free agent playing wherever he feels it's best for him. He could be the first gun cricketer for hire.
With the Lord's Test upon us the simple fact is England have to take 20 wickets. The game's not changed - it's still the same scenario as it's been from the year dot and you need your bowlers.
It looks like Fred is going to be fit for the game so he should be joined in the attack by another pace option, in for Monty Panesar. I'd like to see Steve Harmison let off the leash on a pitch that should suit him, but Graham Onions also makes a pretty decent case.
The batsmen need to do their job and put the runs on the board to give the bowlers something to bowl at. The top six are supposed to be the best batsmen in the country and I'd like to see them prove it in this match.Fred has given his all in the white shirt for England and enough is enough.. but not before one last Aussie bash
