Andrew Flintoff reveals why he chose to become boxer

Unfortunately,a series of injuries blighted the last five years of his career and he was forced to retire from professional cricket in 2010,admitting his body had beaten him.

Later he embarked on a successful television career,appearing as a team captain on the James Corden-hosted sports quiz A League of Their Own and travelling to the remotest regions on Earth for the Discovery Channel. Hes also raised millions of pounds for charity.

Instead of settling into a comfortable lifestyle of golf,time with his young family and the occasional televised adventure abroad,hes decided to take up a sport that those in the business describe starkly as a hurting game.

More shocking is that he doesnt have any previous experience in the ring.

Its an opportunity I couldnt pass up, the Daily mail quoted him as saying.

I played my last game of cricket at the age of 31 and Im only 34 now. Ive always loved boxing and Im going to have a go at it and see where it takes us.

I just really enjoy having a go at things. When you put yourself out there you put yourself up for a bit of criticism,but Im not bothered. The people who criticise,what are they are doing? Criticising is an easy thing to do, he added.

Flintoff will make his professional debut as a heavyweight at Manchester Arena on November 30,less than a week after his friend Ricky Hatton makes his comeback at the same venue.

He was inspired to take up this new career path after he met Barry McGuigan,the former featherweight world champion,last year.

He was interviewing the Irishman for a BBC documentary he was making on how depression affects sportsmen.

At the time,McGuigan was training the Belfast super-bantamweight Carl Frampton,and Flintoff asked whether he could throw a few punches.

Barry put the pads on and I punched them, recalled Flintoff.

He said,Thats all right,that is,so I did a bit more. I thought nothing of it,but then a few months later he was having a meeting at my managers office. I popped my head around the door,joking,and said,Is this about my fight,then? Barry turned round and asked me whether I was serious,and I said,Why not? It just escalated from there, he added.

Flintoff,who is married with three young children,said his wife Rachael is also very supportive regarding his new career.

Shes supportive. I think shes just seeing me getting focused on something again. Ill be honest: I wouldnt be able to do it if she wasnt supportive of it, he insisted.

I think some of the times Ive come in from sparring and Ive got fat lips and blood coming out of my nose shes been a bit shocked,but shes backing me to the hilt, he said.