Gatting plays down Fred move

Gatting: Flintoff situation 'unique'

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Mike Gatting believes Andrew Flintoff's decision to reject an England contract in order to become a freelance player is unlikely to have major repurcussions.

Flintoff severed formal ties with the ECB after retiring from Test cricket after the Ashes and then turning down an incremental contract.

Instead, the all-rounder intends to play for a variety of domestic teams around the world while still remaining committed to the England one-day team.

Current skipper Andrew Strauss has said the management will sit down with Flintoff to discuss his international future, but former captain Gatting says he does not expect other players to follow the Lancashire player's example.

"Fred's is a slightly different scenario because of a chronic injury and I'm not too sure many people will be doing the same because they will want to play Test cricket," he said.

"Economically, you can't blame him. I think there are discussions to be had but it's about what Fred wants more than anything else and whether he's happy to commit as an England one-day player.

"He's made it perfectly clear already he wasn't going to play Test cricket anymore. It's now up to Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower who are going to have to sit down, maybe with Hugh Morris, and talk what their best options are and how it's going to work."