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Flintoff: 'I'd never snub England'
12:45, Dec 16 2009
Andrew Flintoff insists England will always come first for him - ahead of the Indian Premier League and all other franchise contracts the world over.
The 32-year-old, no longer a centrally-contracted player following his decision to turn down an England and Wales Cricket Board incremental deal, who retired from Test cricket four months ago, is hoping to be fit after his latest knee operation in time for next spring's IPL.
Asked in next month's edition of the Wisden Cricketer whether he could ever put any Twenty20 franchise opportunity ahead of his country, he said: "Would I heck, no. I would never turn down England."
He added: "I have shown more than enough passion over the years, and that's not something you lose because I don't have a contract.
"If I didn't think I was going to play for England again, I would not have had this latest operation, no way. It is all about playing for England.
"My intentions are to play every one-day and Twenty20 game for England. It is never going to be a case of picking and choosing."
Flintoff is still hoping too that some of his best years, as a limited-overs cricketer, are ahead of him, adding: "I'm not sure I have even played my best yet, especially in one-day cricket - so now I am having this break I think I have got the chance to get better as a player.
"I am not going to just get by. I genuinely think I can now play my best ever cricket."
Flintoff hopes his cricketing future can take him all over the world. "I want to play for England and Lancashire; I've got my contract with Chennai - and now I have the opportunity to play around the world as well," he said.
"I'm really keen to play in Australia, which has always been an ambition of mine. When I'm fit again I would love to play in their Big Bash Twenty20 competition."
Charnley inspires Wigan triumph 20:45, Feb 11 2012
Winger Josh Charnley scored a hat-trick of tries as Wigan bounced back from their shock opening home defeat by Huddersfield with a clinical 20-6 destruction of Stobart Super League champions Leeds. more
Spurs fans show Redknapp the love 20:45, Feb 11 2012
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France/Ireland clash called off 20:45, Feb 11 2012
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Adebayor inspires Spurs romp 19:45, Feb 11 2012
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England claim narrow Italy victory 18:45, Feb 11 2012
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Chelsea suffer defeat at Everton 17:45, Feb 11 2012
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Late Henry winner rescues Arsenal 17:45, Feb 11 2012
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McArthur clinches Wigan victory 17:45, Feb 11 2012
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Williams inspires Quins win 17:45, Feb 11 2012
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Fleming and Hutchins put GB ahead 16:45, Feb 11 2012
Great Britain moved to within one rubber of a fifth consecutive Davis Cup win under captain Leon Smith after Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins beat Michal Mertinak and Filip Polasek of Slovakia at Glasgow's Braehead Arena. more
Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012
The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc with the sporting calendar on Saturday after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed due to a frozen pitch along with a number of League One and League Two matches. more
Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012
Lee McCulloch grabbed his first goal of the season as Rangers fought back from behind to claim a 4-1 win and deny Dunfermline their first home victory of the season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. more
