Former England captain Andrew Flintoff has revealed how feelings of depression left him “at an all-time low” during the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia.

In an upcoming BBC programme entitled Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side Of Sport, the 34-year-old will investigate the mental health problems suffered by top sportsmen.

Flintoff talks about his own struggles as skipper during the whitewash Down Under, when the urn won in 2005 was given up before Christmas.

“On the 2006-07 Ashes trip, I was probably at an all-time low both personally and professionally,” Flintoff reveals.

“It was hard for me to speak about it to people, even in the dressing room. I was supposed to be this character who was unflappable.

“I was having a drink with my dad on Christmas Eve 2006 and as we made our way home I started crying my eyes out.

“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 I dusted myself down.

“But I was never the same player again.”

Flintoff also talked about his problems with alcohol at the 2007 World Cup, during which time he lost the England vice-captaincy because of the infamous incident in which he took a late night trip in the Caribbean Sea in a pedalo.

Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side Of Sport airs on BBC1 on January 11 at 10.45pm.