subject: Flintoff Ready For Next Ashes [print this page] Andrew Flintoff is not taking up too much time thinking about his retirement from Test cricket. Instead he is focusing on the important Ashes against Australia at the oveal.
So far there is 1-1 going onto Thursday's start. It is essential for England to win this Ashes.
"It's my last Test but I'm not too fussed about that. It's more the chance to win the Ashes again," Flintoff said.
"I'm not the first to say I'm retiring during a series and I won't be the last. The occasion's bigger than that."
In 2005 Flintoff was a major part of the Ashes however he has had a few bad games this series and missed the fourth test at Headingley due to a knee problem. Flintoff is confident for getting his body up to scratch.
I've been working with (physio) Dave Roberts, had some batting over the weekend, and bowled on Tuesday. I'm confident I'll come through," he added.
"I'm probably in a better state than I was going into the third Test at Edgbaston. I think I'm more or less there, I just have to prove it."
England had a 80 run defeat recently at Leeds which was not expected from the team. "I think the week off has been important for the lads. You talk about momentum - it seems to be the buzzword of the minute - but this is a one-off Test match."
Flintoff told BBC Sport that victory in this series, where the team had had to cope without himself and Kevin Pietersen at various times, would be a bigger achievement than winning in 2005.
"In 2005, it was on back of three years of domination where we came in expecting to do something or win," he said.
"The side have gone through a lot on and off field over the last 12 months. With a lot of youngsters who've not played in Ashes before and with the things I've gone through from 2005, from a team and a personal point of view, it'd be a greater achievement."
Flintoff has had to heavily rely on injections in his right knee in the past two Tests. He lokoed like he was struggling on the third at Edgbaston.
"He is determined to play but he and the experts can make a considered decision," said flowers.
England are winning the series 1-0 and are set to name the squad today at 2 o'clock. Flintoff will most likely be in the draw but with only three days between Monday's drawn contest at Edgbaston and the penultimate match of the campaign at Headingley he will be spending a lot of time resting. Flintoff was England's match winner at Lord's which gave us the advantage of the series.
Flintoff bowled only 11 overs and none in the final session and laboured somewhat in the field.
