Andrew Flintoff's decision to reject the offer of an England contract could seriously damage his aim of playing a central role for Andrew Strauss's team in limited-overs cricket for years to come.
By refusing to tie himself to the England & Wales Cricket Board, Flintoff hopes to have the best of both worlds: choosing which games he plays for England, and competing in various Twenty20 franchise competitions around the world.
In terms of sheer ability with bat and ball, England do not have another player who can give the team what Flintoff does, and only a brave man would leave out the charismatic all-rounder.
Yet throughout the victorious Ashes campaign, captain Strauss and coach Andy Flower placed huge importance on unity and harmony within the squad, and Flintoff's new status as a freelance cricketer could test such togetherness to the limit.
Strauss said: "He obviously has his reasons for doing it, but I don't know what they are at this stage.
"We need to sit down and speak to him as to the reasons he has done that, and then we will make an informed decision about what that means for his availability for England.
"If Freddie is committed to playing for England, he is still a great asset in the shorter forms of the game, but it's a conversation the ECB have to have with him and his management."
If Flintoff — who turned down an increment contract worth about £30,000 a year — is allowed to avoid the less glamorous one-day games but still walk back into the team for the
50-over World Cup and the World Twenty20, the player forced to make way is sure to be resentful.
Flintoff has a £1million contract with Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings, and may also play Twenty20 tournaments in Australia, South Africa and West Indies next year.
A statement on Flintoff's website said that, if the 31-year-old's rehabilitation from knee surgery goes smoothly, he "will return to international cricket for England's tour to Bangladesh in February, play for Chennai in the IPL, and compete in the World Twenty20 in West Indies next May."
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The words appear to reflect that Flintoff and his manager, Andrew Chubby' Chandler, believe the Lancastrian is indispensable to his country, and Flintoff added: "I was flattered to receive a contract from the ECB, which I wasn't expecting. But at this stage of my career, I don't think I need to be told when to play and when to rest. I am 31, I have played international cricket for 11 years, and I know my body's capabilities."
It is highly unlikely that Flintoff will be fit enough to play the one-day series in Bangladesh, scheduled for late February or early March next year. But with Flower such a stickler for commitment to the cause, it would not be a surprise if Flintoff's decision to go it alone serves only to bring a premature end to his international career.
