Heavy one-day load for Flintoff after Ashes

Andrew Flintoff, who will be retiring from Test cricket after the deciding Ashes game at The Oval, will have only two days rest at the end of the series before heading to Belfast for a one-day game against Ireland. Flintoff may have played the Ashes with a dodgy knee but Geoff Miller, the chairman of selectors, said the board was keen to have him play as many one-dayers as possible.

The rest of the summer is hectic for England with two Twenty20 internationals and seven ODIs against Australia, one ODI against Ireland and the Champions Trophy later in September. Flintoff is part of all the one-day and Twenty20 squads.

"I hope there is no wishful thinking," Miller said. "He is retiring from Test cricket so his focus is going to be on one-day cricket and we're hoping he will play as many as possible because that's what he has designated himself for.

"We're trying to build a squad and a side so that people are comfortable about where they play. We know what Andrew is capable of and he knows what he's capable of. If we have to monitor Andrew day by day we will do that. But at the moment he's in our squad and an integral part of our side."

Flintoff has struggled with injuries through his career, having undergone four ankle operations and a knee surgery. Earlier this summer, he decided to retire from Tests to prolong his career.