Flintoff's appearances have been confined to the nets for Lancashire this season

By Pranav Soneji

For a man who set his sights on becoming the best one-day player on the planet, Andrew Flintoff will be feeling as if that world is slowly collapsing around him.

The all-rounder proclaimed his appetite to play for England at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups after bringing down the curtain on a 79-match Test career following his country's Ashes success last summer.

But his lofty ambitions are in in doubt following Lancashire's announcement that he will play no part in the remainder of the season because his knee is not currently strong enough to take the strain of competitive cricket.

After four ankle and two knee operations, countless physiotherapy sessions, numerous interviews underlining his desire to resume his international limited-overs career, can the 32-year-old rediscover the form which earned him the joint-most expensive Indian Premier League contract and a place in English folklore?

But more pertinently, do England need Flintoff any more?

When you consider Flintoff, bowling in excess of 85mph, absorbs almost 10 times his own body weight at the point of delivery through his left leg, it's easy to understand why his ankle and knee has taking such a battering over the years.

Flintoff suffered from a chondral defect, when bone is rubbing against bone with little cartilage to absorb the impact, exactly the same injury which caused Michael Vaughan to retire last year.

Although an operation to stimulate tissue growth between the joint was successful in August 2009, Flintoff's rehabilitation was delayed by another six months following arthroscopic surgery in January this year to check the healing around the knee.

Report - Flintoff's legacy (UK only)

But despite numerous net and fitness sessions, Flintoff's knee is not at the moment capable of withstanding the pressures of bowling in excess of 80mph.

Drawing on his own experiences, former England captain Vaughan fears Flintoff will not be able to emulate the talismanic performances which have dotted his 12-year international career.

"I tried my best and it was through sheer determination that got me playing through to last June when I had to retire," Vaughan told BBC Radio 5 live.

"The previous 18 months I couldn't play as well as I could. There were glimpses when I felt in good nick but then I would do something and my knee would flair up and I could not move as well as I wanted to."

Vaughan believes Flintoff must wait at least another six months before he is able to operate without discomfort.

"I only felt right about nine to 12 months after my operation and Freddie is nowhere near that yet," explained Vaughan.

"I tried to bowl a bit of off-spin but the knee kept flaring up. I can't even contemplate trying to bowl over 80mph."

606: DEBATE Would you want to upset England by introducing Flintoff to winning team that he's had nothing to do with? PaddersSCFC

Although Flintoff has signed a three-year contract to play one-day and Twenty20 matches for Lancashire, Vaughan believes his former team-mate should concentrate on the shorter form.

"Twenty20 will be his best choice, you only get four overs and you get two or three days in between games," he added.

"I would like to see him on a pitch as a batsman to start with and I'm sure bowling will be secondary."

Judging by their recent performances in one-day and Twenty20 cricket, the answer is "no" according to Vaughan.

Since Flintoff's last one-day international, a 26-run victory over the West Indies in April last year, England have played 29 matches, winning 17 and losing 12, a 59% victory ratio.

Their Twenty20 ratio since Flintoff's last international in 2007 is similar, standing at 57%, including an unbeaten five-match run to win the World Twenty20 in May.

A huge chunk of that success has been down to the emergence of Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter and a settled pool of about 14 one-day players.

If this was another era, Flintoff would probably have retired from all cricket by now Nigel Currie, director of the European Sponsorship Association

"I don't see him playing for England again - they have moved on without him and are having a lot of success," said Vaughan.

However, England have yet to fully nail the number six conundrum, with both Michael Yardy and Luke Wright used in the position Flintoff made his own.

Another ex-England skipper, Nasser Hussain, says Flintoff's return could upset England's balance.

"England have shown in the past 18 months that everything they do these days is in the best interests of the team and nothing revolves around any one player - not even Kevin Pietersen stands out from the rest these days," he said.

"That team ethic is the biggest single reason why they have made so much progress under [coach] Andy Flower."

Despite his injury tribulations, Flintoff is box office - and the sponsors know it.

A glance at his list of endorsements only confirms his commercial appeal, but his lack of exposure because of injury, coupled with the emergence of a younger generation of talented players, could persuade sponsors to look elsewhere.

"Your profile tends to drop off while new players come along and attract the sponsors' attentions," said Nigel Currie, director of the European Sponsorship Association.

FLINTOFF'S ENDORSEMENTS Barclays Capital Puma Audi Sports ambassador Dubai First Group Red Bull Shell Sure Co-operative

"A player still has value when they stop playing but not as much as before because their exposure is dwindling, especially if they were getting huge amounts of coverage before.

"If this was another era, Flintoff would probably have retired from all cricket by now.

"But with the IPL drawing in millions of viewers and offering sponsors the opportunity for exposure, the potential to earn big money not just through playing is a huge incentive to continue."

Flintoff has the infectious personality to keep sponsors interested and has already begun auditions for a possible TV future as a team captain for Sky's A League Of Their Own game show.

"It all depends on what he does after he finishes his career," added Currie. "If he goes the game show route, which he has done, he can still keep his profile high like Ian Botham did with Question of Sport in the 1980s.

"Cricket is not the greatest sport for sponsorship, especially compared with football, but there have been a handful of England players who have been targeted. And alongside Kevin Pietersen, Flintoff is English cricket's global star."

With his two-year, $1.5m IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings coming to an end this winter, Flintoff's advisers are busy negotiating future commitments.

Flintoff's manager Andrew Chandler told BBC Sport his client was close to signing a deal to play for Queensland in Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition, which starts on 30 December, while securing a place with the Super Kings for the 2011 season will be paramount.

But the disappointment of not turning out for Lancashire for the 2010 season will rankle Flintoff, while his hopes of representing England at the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have almost evaporated.

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