Flintoff said this decision will now help him to extend his One-day and Twenty20 career. Since making his Test debut at the age of 20, Flintoff has been struggling with his persistent back, hip and groin problems and also underwent four ankle operations.

'I love playing Test cricket, but the decision has been made for me - I don't think I've been left with any other choices. I've not been playing Test cricket very often over the last few years so it's bitterly disappointing but it's something I've not been doing very often anyway.

'It's also important for the team that I make this announcement because they need to move on. They can't keep waiting for me to get fit or for me to play a game here and there - they need to give someone else a chance to make their way in the game.'

'I would have liked to have stamped my mark more, but I had three years from 2003 to 2005 when I had everything going my own way. I got a few man-of-the-series awards on the bounce and I tried wholeheartedly and gave my best every time I went out there.

'Since 2005 I have just been plagued with injury so I've got the opportunity now to finish on a high by helping England to win the Ashes and it will give me great pleasure if I can play my last Test at the Oval and we can win the Ashes - it doesn't get any bigger than that.'

Flintoff has played 75 Test over a span of 11 years and has picked up 212 wickets besides scoring 3,658 runs including five centuries.