Freddie's farewell a welcome distraction: Ponting

ANDREW FLINTOFF had no sooner set his battered body one final challenge - to inspire England to an Ashes victory in his swansong Test series - than Australian captain Ricky Ponting claimed the champion all-rounder's impending Test retirement could create a major distraction for the English team in a nation eager to farewell its hero.

Flintoff is a powerful force inside and outside the England dressing room, and it remains to be seen whether that force will be harnessed for or against the home side after the 31-year-old announced he would become a limited-overs specialist following the Ashes.

Flintoff promised to depart the stage he lit up with his heroic performances in the 2005 Ashes with a bang. "That's the plan," said Flintoff, who will continue to play one-day internationals for England and Twenty20 with his IPL team, Chennai.

"It's a weight off my shoulders, once you say it. It would be nice finish on a high. I have been involved in an Ashes-winning side before and that would be the perfect end to my career [against Australia] at The Oval."

However, Ponting said the timing of Flintoff's announcement could damage England's campaign. "Knowing the stature he has in the game in England, I can see it turning into that," Ponting said. "Whenever he plays a game … you can see that the fans here are very passionate about watching Andrew Flintoff play. If they know that it's his last chance to play here and at Edgbaston and Headingley, then I'm sure there'll be a bit of a circus around it. If that is the case, it will create some distractions, but that's not for us to worry about."

Flintoff is hopeful of playing in the Lord's Test after bowling some sharp overs on his injured knee at training on Wednesday. He had been pondering retirement from Tests after the Ashes for several weeks but the recurrence of his knee problem during the Cardiff Test forced the issue.

"It's not something I have just thought up overnight, it's been in my mind for a while, regarding this series. With the knee flaring up again, the timing felt right.

"There's been a lot of speculation over my future over the last few weeks, and I wanted to get it out there," said Flintoff, who has missed 25 of England's past 48 Tests. "After four ankle operations and having knee surgery, my body is telling me things, and I'm starting to listen now. I can't keep playing games and waiting to be fit, for my own sanity and my family having to live with me going through two years of rehab in the past four.