Andrew Flintoff Has Refused an Incremental Deal From the Ecb and Can Now Play One-day Cricket Where and When He Chooses

Andrew Flintoff shook international cricket last night by rejecting the offer of an England contract and committing himself to a future as a cricketing freelance, able to travel worldwide in search of the riches on offer in the Twenty20 game.

The 31-year-old all-rounder says that he still wants to play one-day cricket for England, as far ahead as the 2013 World Cup, but his determination to play when and where he pleases could endanger his international future as the England and Wales Cricket Board debates the implications of an unprecedented situation.

Flintoff, who is undergoing long-term rehab in Dubai after a sixth major operation, another on the knee that caused him to retire from Test cricket, was last week offered a lower-tier "incremental contract" by the ECB — a top-up to other payments — to play one-day cricket for England.

He did not just refuse, he did so in a manner that firmly asserted his rights to make his own decisions on where to play his cricket. "I was flattered to receive the offer of an incremental contract from the ECB, which I wasn't really expecting," he said, "but at this stage of my career I don't think I need to be told when to play and when to rest."

The ECB has no immediate reason to believe that other highly sought England players — such as Kevin Pietersen — are also about to reject central contracts, which give England considerable control over their careers, specifically when they play and when they rest.

Nevertheless, Professional Cricketers' Association officials were privately affirming last night that Flintoff's decision could only encourage leading players to consider a freelance career, picking and choosing the most lucrative series and playing for England on a match-fee basis.

An incremental contract, however, gives England lesser powers, which has left the ECB dismayed about Flintoff's course of action. A spokesman responded: "We have read Andrew Flintoff's statement this evening and clearly there is a lot to digest. We will make no further comment until we have had a chance to consider it."