London - England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke defended the governing body's handling of Andrew Flintoff on Tuesday after the all-rounder underwent keyhole surgery on his right knee.
Officials expect Flintoff to be fit in time for June's World Twenty20 tournament, which is being staged in England.
But the fact the all-rounder injured himself playing in South Africa during the cash-rich Indian Premier League led former captain Nasser Hussain, among others, to question the point of England's central contract system.
The injury-plagued Flintoff has such a lucrative contract, which is designed to give the England management control over when he plays and when he doesn't.
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'Everybody in the country wants us to win the Ashes this year' Hussain was angry that ahead of a season that includes two Tests against the West Indies, the World Twenty20 and an Ashes series that Flintoff, who has had four operations on his left ankle alone, as well as side, groin, shoulder and back problems, was allowed to play in a "largely meaningless competition".
But Clarke, speaking on Sky Sports, said the ultimate responsibility for appearing in the IPL was down to the individual player.
"We have a position now where it is after all in the end a matter for the player. Some Australian players (including captain Ricky Ponting) decided they wanted to stay fresh for the Ashes and the (Twenty20) World Cup," he said.
"Stuart Broad (the England pace bowler) took a similar approach.
"I think it is absolutely right that it is a decision for the player, what he wants to do. He has a limited period of time as a player.
"From our point of view, the schedule is clear. We've done our best to ensure that those who do go (to the IPL) thought it through and that the medical treatment, if anything happens, as we've just seen, is prompt and decisive.
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