Strauss wants talks with 'freelance' Flintoff

Nottingham:

England captain Andrew Strauss said he wanted to have face-to-face talks with Andrew Flintoff following the star all-rounder's decision to turn himself into a cricket freelance.

But Flintoff's move won unconditional support from the chief executive of England's Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA), Sean Morris, who said he had to make the most of the "small window" left in his career.

Flintoff, who made an injury induced retirement from Test cricket after England's Ashes series win last month, announced Tuesday he was turning down the offer of an England contract in favour of managing his own schedule rather than being under the control of national coach Andy Flower.

Strauss, speaking after Tuesday's four-wicket defeat here at Trent Bridge that left England 5-0 down in their seven-match one-day international series against Australia, said of Flintoff's contract choice: "I don't know the reasons he's turned it down.

"I think we need to sit down and speak to him. Then we'll make an informed decision about what that means to his availability for England."

However, Strauss added: "If Freddie is committed to playing for England, he's still a great asset in the shorter formats of the game."

Although currently sidelined following post-Ashes knee surgery, the 31-year-old Flintoff - who insists he does remain committed to England's one-day cause - is reportedly a target for leading domestic teams in Australia and South Africa.

Flintoff, along with England team-mate Kevin Pietersen, was the best paid player in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) after being auctioned for USD 1.55 million.

Provided he regains fitness, Flintoff has said he will be available for the one-day leg of England's tour of Bangladesh in February and the World Twenty20 in the West Indies while fitting in another stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL in between.

Flintoff's career has been blighted by four ankle operations and two on his knee and Morris told BBC Radio Five Live on Wednesday: "In Andrew's case, it's a slightly unique example because over the last 10 years he's given his all to English cricket.

"Now he's reached a point in his career where he needs to make personal decisions which are best for him and his family.

"He is probably in a unique position because he's built his international value through performing well for England.

"As a result he can gain rewards for playing in Sydney or Mumbai that most other players can't," Morris said.

"Freddie's body is telling him enough is enough. He's only got a small window left in his career and he's got to take advantage of that."

Meanwhile Morris said Pietersen, England's other star performer, would not be tempted to go down a similar route.

"KP would be very much focusing on playing for England. If you speak to the current crop of England players, they still believe representing their country is the number one priority."

Morris added that congested fixture programmes could see an increasing number of players opting out of certain international cricket formats.

"The schedules from 2012 to 2020 are horrendous," Morris said.

"And you add to that a couple of domestic tournaments, such as the IPL and Champions League, and you get a concertina effect where the top players physically and mentally will not be able to perform in all of it and as a result they will be forced to choose between one and the other.