NEW DELHI: Andrew Flintoff‘s coaching journey in cricket has progressed further as he was appointed to lead the England Lions, the country’s second-tier team, on Saturday.
Following a devastating accident while filming for the BBC’s “Top Gear” television show in late 2022, the former England skipper has made a comeback to cricket over the past year.
During this year’s T20 World Cup, he worked as an assistant coach for England and supervised the Northern Superchargers in the latest season of the Hundred, an English domestic cricket tournament.
Currently, the 46-year-old former all-rounder is at the Oval with the Test team for the series finale against Sri Lanka this week, filling in for batting coach Marcus Trescothick. He has now committed to managing the Lions for the upcoming four series.
The Lions aim to nurture emerging talent for the senior team, and Flintoff has agreed to oversee tours to South Africa and Australia, as well as home matches against India A and Zimbabwe.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role with the England Lions,” said Flintoff, as quoted by AFP. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the country and to help shape the future of the men’s game.
“The Lions programme has always been a vital stepping stone for players pushing for international success, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey.”
Flintoff, who recently hosted the highly acclaimed second series of Field of Dreams on BBC television, where cricket is used to support disadvantaged youth, added: “The future of the game in England is in excellent health. There is a wealth of talent emerging, and I’m looking forward to helping these players reach their full potential.
“It’s an exciting time for English cricket, and I’m passionate about inspiring the next generation to take the sport forward. We’ve got a strong foundation, and I believe we can create something truly special.”
Director of cricket Rob Key, a former international teammate, has tipped Flintoff as a potential future head coach of the England team.
Ed Barney, men’s performance director at the England and Wales Cricket Board, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Flintoff into this key role. Andrew stood out thanks to his inspirational leadership, coaching expertise, and deep understanding of the game.”
Following a devastating accident while filming for the BBC’s “Top Gear” television show in late 2022, the former England skipper has made a comeback to cricket over the past year.
During this year’s T20 World Cup, he worked as an assistant coach for England and supervised the Northern Superchargers in the latest season of the Hundred, an English domestic cricket tournament.
Currently, the 46-year-old former all-rounder is at the Oval with the Test team for the series finale against Sri Lanka this week, filling in for batting coach Marcus Trescothick. He has now committed to managing the Lions for the upcoming four series.
The Lions aim to nurture emerging talent for the senior team, and Flintoff has agreed to oversee tours to South Africa and Australia, as well as home matches against India A and Zimbabwe.
“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role with the England Lions,” said Flintoff, as quoted by AFP. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the country and to help shape the future of the men’s game.
“The Lions programme has always been a vital stepping stone for players pushing for international success, and I’m honoured to be part of that journey.”
Flintoff, who recently hosted the highly acclaimed second series of Field of Dreams on BBC television, where cricket is used to support disadvantaged youth, added: “The future of the game in England is in excellent health. There is a wealth of talent emerging, and I’m looking forward to helping these players reach their full potential.
“It’s an exciting time for English cricket, and I’m passionate about inspiring the next generation to take the sport forward. We’ve got a strong foundation, and I believe we can create something truly special.”
Director of cricket Rob Key, a former international teammate, has tipped Flintoff as a potential future head coach of the England team.
Ed Barney, men’s performance director at the England and Wales Cricket Board, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Flintoff into this key role. Andrew stood out thanks to his inspirational leadership, coaching expertise, and deep understanding of the game.”
