English cricketer Andrew Flintoff has been regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the game. Today, he announced his retirement from international cricket by bringing down the curtains on his 12-year career which was marked by distressing injuries and controversies.

Flintoff had announced his retirement from Test cricket after the 2009 Ashes triumph in the Oval Test. He decided to quit all forms of the game with immediate effect because of a long-standing knee injury. He played 79 Tests and compiled 3845 runs and claimed 226 wickets and has been considered as one of the most talented cricketers to emerge from England in recent times. His achievements in the cricket field were at times overshadowed by a series of controversies, which ranged from waving his shirt during England's 2001-02 India tour to the infamous pedalo incident during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

After quitting Test cricket, Flintoff underwent a series of knee surgeries and hoped to return to action this season but that was ruled out last month. Andrew Flintoff said, "It is with both disappointment and sadness that I am today announcing my retirement from all forms of cricket. The decision to end my career came after consultation with medical advisers".