The All-rounder's Agent Revealed That the Descision to Reject the Ecb Offer Sprang From a Desire to Participate in Dangerous Sports

Andrew Flintoff's ambition to go bungee-jumping contributed to the all-rounder's decision to turn down an England and Wales Cricket Board incremental contract, his agent revealed last night.

Andrew Chandler said that his client's motivation for rejecting the deal was not greed but sprang from a desire to engage in adventure sports that were forbidden under the terms of his proposed agreement with the board.

"I've seen reports he's a mercenary – he's nothing of the sort," Chandler said. "There were one or two things in it that made it difficult to sign. Like he wouldn't be allowed to participate in dangerous sports and he's possibly doing a television series in which he may do bungee-jumping." Flintoff, who has undergone four ankle and two knee operations in the past four years is recovering from his latest surgery in Dubai.

The Lancastrian's hitherto well-hidden longing to launch himself and freefall from a great height while attached to an elastic cord was not the only reason he decided to go freelance, his agent said. Financial considerations did come into it.

"He's got three young kids and Andrew and his wife Rachel both spend reasonable amounts of cash so he has to make plenty," Chandler told the BBC.

"I don't know what was in the ECB's mind when they offered him the contract they did. Because they probably must have known that the money wouldn't have made a lot of difference compared to the sums of money he was earning as a Test cricketer."

But, Chandler maintained, Flintoff was as keen as ever to play for England in one-day and Twenty20 internationals. Complications from his latest operation mean that is unlikely to happen in Bangladesh next February but a "realistic aim" for his return would be to be fit in time to play for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League the following month.

Mike Selvey, page 8