Mark Butcher: I fear mass exodus of Test stars

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Flintoff will leave the five-day game after the decisive Fifth npower Test, which begins at The Brit Oval on Thursday, after deciding that a series of injuries had taken too great a toll on his body - at the age of just 31.

Flintoff will continue to play 50over and Twenty20 cricket, and Butcher is worried that other England stars - such as Kevin Pietersen - may copy him, well before they end their cricket careers altogether.

"I can see it happening, and it's a particular problem for English players," said 36-year-old Butcher, who retired earlier this month after a series of knee problems.

"The other Test-playing nations don't play for 12 months of the year. Everyone has their tours, but because of our northern hemisphere summer, England never get a break.

"The Indian Premier League is now here, where there is enormous money to be made, but its timing means that for England players, it will clash with early-summer matches here.

"I can see England players getting sick and tired of short tours to some of the lesser Test-playing nations, and deciding that they want to do that (play in the IPL) instead."

Butcher, who played 71 Tests, also urged Kevin Pietersen not to return too early after his Achilles injury.

Butcher added: "The temptation is always to come back too soon, but it's important he doesn't. If it means missing the early part of the South Africa tour, so be it."

* Mark Butcher is a Chance to shine ambassador and was appearing at an MCC Spirit of Cricket summer camp. For further details visit www.lords.org