Flintoff reveals his booze and depression hell after 2006-07 Ashes whitewash

London, Jan 2 : Former England skipper Andrew Flintoff has recalled the 2006-07 Ashes series when he broke down after Australia whitewashed his team 5-0, and was contemplating retiring at the subsequent World Cup.

Flintoff was speaking about his personal struggles in a BBC programme entitled Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side Of Sport, which would be aired on January 11.

England had lost the 2006-07 Ashes under Flintoff’s captaincy.

"I was having a quiet drink with my dad, Colin, on Christmas Eve 2006 and as we made our way home I started crying my eyes out,'''' telegraph.com.au quoted Flintoff, as saying.

"I told him I''d tried my best but that I couldn''t do it any more, I couldn''t keep playing. We talked and, of course, I dusted myself down and carried on. But I was never the same player again,” he added.

Flintoff confessed “ instead of walking out confidently to face Australia in one of the world''s biggest sporting events, I didn''t want to get out of bed, never mind face people.''''

Flintoff was ordered to quit a practice session by then-England coach Duncan Fletcher due to excessive drinking.

Flintoff lost his vice captaincy after he consumed pedalo near England''s hotel in St Lucia  at the World Cup in the Caribbean.

"The whole time I was on the field and throughout that World Cup all I could think about was that I wanted to retire,'''' Flintoff said.

"I didn''t understand what was happening to me. I knew when I got back to my room I couldn''t shut off, which is why I started having a drink. It got to the stage where I was probably drinking more than I should,” he added.