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Page last updated at 12:46 GMT, Monday, 28 September 2009 13:46 UK

Flintoff agrees to England agenda

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Flintoff reveals Aussie dream

Andrew Flintoff says he will be available for England's one-day and Twenty20 matches for the foreseeable future, once he returns to fitness.

The 31-year-old, on crutches as he recovers from knee surgery, rejected an England and Wales Cricket Board deal to pursue other short-term contracts.

And although retired from Test cricket, Flintoff has insisted he still has a desire to play for England.

"I'm available for every England game except Test matches," Flintoff said.

"I've seen a lot of people saying I'll be picking and choosing games, but there will be none of that. Every England game, in the short form, I am available for."

Having flown to London from his temporary base in Dubai to launch his book on Monday, Flintoff outlined plans for his his future - and said he did not expect to walk back into the England side.

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"My understanding is, like everybody who plays for his county, I have to perform to get in the side.

"I want to play for England for a period of time. I'd like to play more Test cricket but it's a physical impossibility and the next best thing for me is to play Twenty20s and one-day cricket for them.

"I am still contracted for Lancashire for a year. I'll play for them in the one-day stuff and if I can play in the four-day game then I will."

Despite his lucrative deal with Indian Premier League side Chennai, he insisted his main focus remained with England, "closely followed by Lancashire - but if you talk to Lancashire fans it's the other way round."

ECB managing director Hugh Morris told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's good news.

"Speaking to Andrew's agent, he was very clear from the word go that it was his intention to be available for all one-day internationals and Twenty20s over the next 12 months.

"I outlined the fixture list to Andrew's agent and he confirmed, post rehabilitation, that would be the case."

With the IPLs and this and that, if there are clashes I'll play for England. It's what I've wanted to do since I was a kid, I feel lucky to do it, I don't know how long I've got left to do it so I want to play every possible game I can for them

Andrew Flintoff

A chronic knee injury prompted Flintoff to give up Tests, and he played his last five-day match in the Ashes-winning victory against Australia at The Oval in August.

After undergoing surgery on his right knee in August, the celebrated all-rounder has been assisting the United Arab Emirates national team on a casual basis - but has no desire to be a full-time coach in the future.

Flintoff will miss the one-day series with South Africa in November, but is trying to be fit for England's three one-day internationals against Bangladesh in February 2010 before flying to the Caribbean for the World Twenty20 in May.

As well as his England commitments, Flintoff will also try to appear in the third IPL tournament, which begins in March 2010.

He became the joint most expensive player in Twenty20 cricket in February when he was signed by Chennai Super Kings for $1.5m (£1.1m).

And he also said he was interested in playing in Twenty20 leagues abroad, in particular Australia - though he was adamant England would continue to come first.

"With the IPLs and this and that, if there are clashes I'll play for England. It's what I've wanted to do since I was a kid, I feel lucky to do it, I don't know how long I've got left to do it so I want to play every possible game I can for them."

Meanwhile batsman Eoin Morgan and all-rounder Tim Bresnan have been awarded increment contracts by the ECB.

The duo, who are with England at the Champions Trophy in South Africa, will be financially rewarded for their appearances between 1 October 2008 and 30 September 2009.

They were given the contracts after reaching the 20-point threshold for the award of them - with five appearance points awarded for a Test appearance and two points for a one-day or Twenty20 international.

An increment contract enables a player's county salary to boosted by further payment from the ECB, while players offered the more presitigious central contract are employed directly by the English cricket's governing body.



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see also
Flintoff swayed by TV opportunity
18 Sep 09 |  England
Vaughan issues Flintoff warning
16 Sep 09 |  England
Flintoff rejects England contract
15 Sep 09 |  England
Flintoff's England future at risk
14 Sep 09 |  England
Flintoff recovery set for Dubai
08 Sep 09 |  England
Flintoff admits fears over career
30 Aug 09 |  Cricket
Victorious England regain Ashes
23 Aug 09 |  England
Flintoff issues burnout warning
16 Jul 09 |  Cricket
Flintoff to undergo knee surgery
24 Apr 09 |  England
England stars set for IPL opener
28 Mar 09 |  Cricket
England players top IPL auction
06 Feb 09 |  Cricket


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