I'd never turn down England for IPL: Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff might have turned a freelancer but the talented all-rounder said his passion to play for England is still intact and he would never choose to play cash-rich twenty20 events like IPL over England.

"I would never turn down England. I have shown more than enough passion over the years, and that's not something you lose because I don't have a contract," Flintoff said in an interview with the January issue of The Wisden Cricketer magazine.

"If I didn't think I was going to play for England again, I would not have had this latest operation, no way. It is all about playing for England," he added.

"My intentions are to play every One-day and Twenty20 game for England. It is never going to be a case of picking and choosing. I want to play for England and Lancashire, I've got my contract with Chennai and now I have the opportunity to play around the world as well. I'm really keen to play in Australia, which has always been an ambition of mine. When I'm fit again I would love to play in their Big Bash Twenty20 competition," he added.

Flintoff hoped this break would help him to rejuvenate so that he can play his best ever cricket.