Andrew Flintoff today admitted he had to quit Test cricket “for my own sanity” after a succession of injury problems.

The England all-rounder has decided to retire from the five-day format after the current Ashes series and concentrate on the shorter forms of the game in order to prolong his career, which has been ravaged in recent years by injury.

The news will come as a huge boost to Lancashire.

Flintoff, one of the heroes of the 2005 Ashes triumph, said: “Excuse the pun, but it’s not a knee-jerk reaction, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while. It’s just the timing of it.

“I think with this latest thing with my knee, seeing the surgeon Monday and having jabs in it, my body is telling me it’s time to give in.

“For my own sanity I can’t keep going through rehabilitation, I think I’ve done two years in the past four, just rehab all the way through.

“I’ve got four Test matches, and I’ll give my utmost for England to try and contribute to an Ashes win, so that’s what I’m focusing on over the next few weeks.”

Flintoff had been touch and go for the second Ashes Test starting at Lord’s today, but the Lancashire man is confident of being involved.

He said: “I’ve bowled a few overs and we’ll make the final decision in the morning (today), just to check everything is fine, and have another bowl before they announce the final team, but I’m very hopeful at this stage.”

The 31-year-old admitted the decision had been virtually taken out of his hands.

“It’s been a hard decision but a decision that’s been pretty much made for me,” he said.

“All the rehab and injuries I’ve had over the last few years take their toll on you. My body’s telling me things and I’m starting to listen.

“I’ve still got the chance to play international cricket - I’m going to carry on playing one-day internationals and Twenty20s.

”I’m hopefully going to be a big part of English cricket.”