London, July 15 - Former England captain and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff Wednesday announced his retirement from Test cricket after the Ashes, admitting that his injuries have conquered him.

'My body has told me it's time to stop. Since 2005 I've had two years when I've done nothing but rehab from one injury or another,' Flintoff said, adding that he had conveyed the decision to his teammates before the practice session here Wednesday.

'It's been something I've been thinking about for a while and I think this last problem I've had with my knee has confirmed to me that the time is now right (to quit Test cricket),' said Flintoff, who was ICC's player of the year in 2005.

a series of injuries have kept Flintoff out of cricket since 2005. The 31-year-old Flintoff has missed 25 of England's last 48 Tests and is even doubtful for the second Test against England at Lord's from Thursday. He aggravated his knee injury while bowling in the first Test at Cardiff and Monday took some injections as a desperate measure to get fit for the second Test.

'For the next four Test matches I'll do everything I need to do to get on a cricket field and I'm desperate to make my mark. I want to finish playing for England on a high and if you look at the fixtures going forward, the way my body is suggests I won't be able to get through that,' said Flintoff, who played a stellar role in winning the Ashes for England in 2005 after 18 years.

'I've chatted to Andrew Strauss and he is very supportive but I will make my decision on whether I will be fit enough to play in the Test match and not because I want to play one last Test for England at Lord's,' he added.