Andrew Flintoff has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket "with disappointment and sadness". The injury-plagued all-rounder, 32, revealed the decision came after consultation with medical advisers. He said: "Having been told my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of cricket, I had no alternative." Lancashire star Flintoff played a key role in England's Ashes successes of 2005 and 2009 but had been dogged by knee problems in recent years. He added in a statement: "I was told the problems I have been trying to overcome in rehab for the last year, following the latest of a series of operations, would not recover sufficiently to allow a comeback.