Andrew Flintoff revealed one of his most embarrassing moments in an England shirt came after taking Viagra

VIAGRA and cricket aren’t necessarily two things that go hand in hand, and you’ll know why after hearing Andrew Flintoff’s embarrassing revelation.

England's Andrew Flintoff looks back as he walks off in his final Test at Lords as England defeat Australia by 115 runs on th...

VIAGRA is supposed to improve your performance, not hamper it.

But former England captain Andrew Flintoff revealed the drug had only negative consequences for him during a Test match for his country.

The big-hitting all-rounder said he was once run out in a Test because he couldn’t move properly after taking three Viagra pills in the middle of the match.

“It started with an article my ex sold to the News of the World,” Flintoff told the Daily Mail. “It wasn’t very complimentary about my ‘performance’, if you get my meaning.

“So I decided I had to put that myth to bed even though I was in the middle of a Test match.

“I took three Viagra one night and didn’t realise how long they lasted. Trying to bat the next day in that state was not easy. I was run out, simply because I couldn’t move. I could only hop. It wasn’t worth it, either. Complete waste of time.”

In a career littered with match-winning performances, most notably during the 2005 Ashes series in England, Flintoff has had more than a couple of behavioural indiscretions. He got drunk and had to be rescued after taking a pedalo for a late-night joy-ride in the Caribbean during the 2007 World Cup, and got kicked out of then-Prime Minister Tony Blair’s office during a visit to 10 Downing Street as part of the 2005 Ashes victory celebrations.

Flintoff in his trademark pose.

So you get the feeling that, if there was going to be one cricketer in the world who this Viagra story had to happen to, it would be Freddie.

But it wasn’t all smiles and laughter for the ex-international. He revealed that despite his on-field bravado, he suffered from mental demons, and was diagnosed with depression in 2012 while filming a BBC documentary about mental illnesses.

“During that filming what I already knew deep down became very clear,” said Flintoff. “With me it was most apparent at the 2007 World Cup.

“I took wickets and everybody was celebrating around me and I just felt nothing, absolutely nothing.

“I thought I was ill. I went to the team doctor. I had no idea what was wrong. I know now. I have seen experts about it and it was a relief to be told what it was.”

He may no longer be scrutinised as a cricketer, but Flintoff’s life in retirement has seem him remain very much in the public eye. He has appeared on reality TV and celebrity talk shows, and still suffers occasional bouts of depression.

“I have at times, yeah (needed to take anti-depressants after retiring). That’s fine. I haven’t for a while but I get checks. Everything is great at the moment, life’s good. Sometimes you feel something and you know it’s there again,” said Flintoff.

“But I know what it is and that’s reassuring. Usually it passes.

“I reckon when I started out, if someone had said something in the dressing room about depression it would have been used against them. Hopefully it wouldn’t be now.”

If you or someone you know is in need of counselling, contact Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or Lifeline: 13 11 14.