Tag: Andrew Flintoff

Andrew Flintoff said he has no desire to succeed Brendon McCullum as England head coach despite cutting his teeth with the second-string England Lions.

The former England captain has returned to cricket, coaching the Lions as well as the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, after a car crash while filming for the BBC Top Gear television programme that left him with severe facial and rib injuries.

His impact on the Lions has resulted in the charismatic former all-rounder being linked with the top England coaching post, especially if McCullum opts against extending his contract with the national side that covers all three formats and runs up to and including the 2027 World Cup.

Andrew Flintoff has rejected the suggestion, instead highlighting his admiration for Brendon McCullum by comparing his influence to that of Gareth Southgate with the England football team from 2016-24.

Asked about the prospect of taking over from McCullum, 2005 Ashes hero Flintoff told the Stick to Cricket podcast: “It’s not something I’m looking at, Baz McCullum is incredible –- the best England coach.

“He’s unbelievable and the culture he’s created is incredible. It’s similar to what Gareth Southgate did with the football lads; they are not just good players but great lads as well.

“I’m enjoying working under Keysy (England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key). It’s no secret he’s one of my best mates and he’s helped me so much in other things. With Baz, we’ve got a great relationship and the utmost respect.”

Flintoff initially joined then England white-ball boss Matthew Mott’s backroom team on an ad-hoc basis in September 2023, and was a member of staff at last year’s T20 World Cup, where a semi-final exit led to Australian coach Mott’s sacking.

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Flintoff last year took the Superchargers close to the knockout stages in his first season, after they had finished bottom of the standings the year before.

He also oversaw a tour of Australia last winter with the Lions, who have recently drawn two unofficial Tests against India A.

“Honestly, at the moment, I feel as though I’m in the perfect place working with the Lions. I don’t see this as a stepping stone to anything else, I’m invested in this and get a chance to work with these lads,” added the 47-year-old.

“I’m not looking at the franchise world or anything else, although I do the Northern Superchargers which came around last year and I enjoy working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that.

“I think ‘I’ve got a job to do here’ and it’s not like ‘what’s next?’.”

Both Andrew Flintoff and fellow former England all-rounder Moeen Ali have been working with the current side ahead of the second Test against India at Edgbaston starting Wednesday.

“It’s been a constant thing for us to get some of the greats who have represented England into the environment, helping out,” England captain Ben Stokes told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

“Those conversations we have around the nets, just natural conversations that you do have with these people when they come in, are so invaluable to players.”

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Andrew Flintoff has revealed his pride at seeing ‘Field of Dreams’ protege Adnan Miakhel, a refugee from Afghanistan, make his first appearance for Lancashire second team.

The former England cricket captain, who made his name in cricket as a hugely talented all-rounder while playing for Lancashire, his native county, has been back in the public eye lately following the release of a new documentary detailing the painful recovery from his life-changing car crash.

The programme sees Flintoff speak about how returning from show business to cricket has helped him gain fresh meaning in life.

Miakhel’s appearance in a three-day friendly against Yorkshire—the traditional arch-rivals of northwest county Lancashire—unites the worlds of entertainment and sport.

The Afghan refugee was the breakout star of Flintoff’s television reality show about a scratch team of would-be cricketers based in Preston, Lancashire, and was awarded asylum in the United Kingdom after his mentor wrote to the Home Office (Britain’s interior ministry) supporting his application.

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Andrew Flintoff, reflecting on Miakhel’s elevation from Lancashire’s Under-18s last season to the second string this year, posted on X: “Some journeys are longer and harder, I’m so proud of this fine young man.”

Adnan Miakhel scored 25 not out batting at number 10 in the first innings and dismissed first-teamers Jonny Tattersall and Matt Revis as he claimed figures of 2-72 from 13 overs.

The game at Liverpool’s Northern Cricket Club is a friendly match which does not restrict teams to the usual standard 11 players, and Miakhel is not listed to bat in the second innings.

Rossall School, which awarded Miakhel a scholarship, paid its own tribute, adding on X: “Amazing to see current Y13 and 1XI (first team) cricket Captain Adnan M being presented with his 2XI (2nd XI) cap as he made his debut against Yorkshire.

“It is fantastic to see all of the hard work Adnan has put in paying off and we wish him all the success in the future with @lancscricket,” added the message from Rossall, whose former pupils include Liam Botham, the son of England cricket great Ian Botham, who also played cricket and both codes of rugby at a professional level in his own right.

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Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff parted ways with the national team’s coaching setup ahead of the upcoming series against Australia after reports of his strained relations with white-ball captain Jos Buttler.

England is scheduled to play a three-match T20I series and a five-match ODI series against arch-rivals Australia, however, the former all-rounder would not be part of England’s team management during the series.

The 46-year-old Flintoff joined England’s white-ball setup in 2023 and served as the team’s assistant coach during the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

England struggled in the early stages of the tournament, however, they bounced back and reached the semi-finals, where they were defeated by eventual champions India.

There were reports indicating that Andrew Flintoff and team captain Jos Buttler had a strained relationship during the ICC T20 World Cup, which ultimately resulted in the former all-rounder leaving the team.

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Notably, Flintoff joined England’s coaching setup on a short-term basis, and he hasn’t held a full-time contract.

Flintoff, recently, conveyed his deep affection for the sport of cricket and expressed his profound gratitude for the opportunity to be actively engaged in the game as a coach.

“Cricket has given me so much. It’s all I ever wanted to do as a kid and I got the opportunity to live my dream,” said Flintoff.

“I feel really lucky to be back here and I want the lads to cherish playing. When you finish playing, you look back and it passes so quickly, but you just take time when you’re out there, just to have a look around and take it in and live in the moment.

“And that’s what I’m doing these days. It’s living in the moment and enjoying it. And that’s something I want the players to do, and the teams that play under me to do as well.”

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