Flintoff Eyeing Up TV Series Role

Andrew Flintoff’s agent has revealed that the all-rounder is considering taking part in an extreme sports television series after the cricketer rejected a new England contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Answering accusations of greed and a lack of loyalty, Flintoff’s agent Andrew Chandler stated: ‘There were one or two things in the deal that made it tough to sign. I’ve seen reports he’s a mercenary – he’s nothing of the sort.

‘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’s rejection of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s offer of an incremental contract worth around £25,000, leaves him free to take up lucrative offers from overseas sides.

But Chandler insisted the all-rounder, who retired from Test cricket in the wake of the Ashes series victory over Australia in August remains committed to England and will be available for selection for their Twenty20 and one-day matches.

‘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 he is going to end up with the odd sponsorship deal that would be possibly conflicting with an England sponsorship deal and he just wants to have the freedom of mind that he can do what he wants to when he wants to.’

Flintoff is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United Arab Emirates, where he will be based for six months, after an operation on a persistent knee injury which means he will take no part in Australia’s provincial Twenty20 competition that begins in December.

Chandler believes that Flintoff is unlikely to be ready to play for England – if selected – for the one-day leg of England’s tour of Bangladesh in February, though a second stint with the Indian Premier League is a ‘realistic aim’.

That could mean a return to action for the Chennai Super Kings, who play the Deccan Chargers in their first IPL match on 14th March.