Timing your retirement is one of the most important decisions a cricketer can ever make. But it can also be the easiest. During my own career I remember players saying: “I just knew it was time to go” and wondering how that could be. A few years later, I knew exactly what they meant.

Andrew Flintoff will have put a lot of thought into his announcement yesterday. We will have to wait and see what impact it has on the rest of the Ashes series, whether it proves to be a distraction for England or whether they draw inspiration for the next four games after what, for them, was a below-par performance in Cardiff.

Maybe he spoke to Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower before deciding to reveal his intentions now, rather than at the end of the series. Freddie is a team player through and through, so he must feel that it will help the side to gel. At the same time, if you want to be devil's advocate, there are similar instances where teams have suffered.

When I think back to Steve Waugh announcing his retirement before a home series against India in 2003-04, every Test match then became a farewell to him. It had a knock-on effect on the other guys and the focus of the team as a whole. An Ashes Test at Lord's is already a very big occasion, especially with the series level.

Flintoff's body has gone through so many stresses and strains. It is a hard life being a fast bowler and the injuries have probably just worn him down like water pounding on a rock. Other priorities - children and family - will be at the forefront of his mind as well as the good of the team. I consider myself a good mate and wish him all the best.

Looking back, I can think of a whole line of really good and great Australia players from David Boon to Mark Waugh, Ian Healy, Mark Taylor and Michael Slater. Not many of them had the opportunity to choose when to go out. Freddie has given himself that luxury.

The best advice I had was from one of my biggest influences, Ian Chappell. Before the 2006-07 Ashes I told him I was thinking of calling time after the series. He didn't try to persuade me one way or the other, but said that it was better going when people ask “Why are you?” rather than “Why don't you?” Since then, I feel that I've done pretty well in the IPL and a few people have mentioned from time to time the idea of a comeback. Maybe if my form and fitness were good, I could still play Test cricket, but while all those words were flattering, they simply confirmed to me that I made the right decision.

In my case, I didn't want to make an announcement until we had regained the Ashes. Had we won in 2005, there is every chance that I would have stepped down then. But after winning in Perth, I knew that was it. In fact I can remember trying to tell Ricky Ponting in the dressingroom afterwards. He kept saying: “No, you're not ... stop ... I don't want to hear it.”

The timing just felt spot on because I could end at the MCG, my home ground, and Sydney, where my Test career began, knowing that it wouldn't be a distraction. Glenn McGrath rang to say that he was thinking of going out at the same time and would I mind if we retired together. I told him it would be an honour. Justin Langer then joined us. We were like the Three Stooges at Sydney.

With Freddie, the loss will go beyond just England. World cricket will be the poorer, too, although it's great that he is continuing at one-day and Twenty20 levels.

People remember him for his runs and wickets in 2005, but also for the way he played. He is one of the good guys, an entertainer who knows about the spirit of the game.

He will be great in the IPL next year and for as long as he plays in the competition. He's not played for Chennai Super Kings in India yet, but I know that they will love him. Twenty20 suits his style. It is intensive, but not too long. He will hit some long balls and bowl some fast ones. It's simple, really - he's just a very good cricketer.

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I cannot believe that England are serious about picking Graham Onions ahead of Stephen Harmison today. Australia will just smash Onions around the park. He needs conditions to be in his favour, which is why he does well for Durham. Otherwise he is a very flat bowler. England could be about to make a decision they regret.