Andrew Flintoff will have the first pick in this year’s Hundred draft ahead of his first senior coaching role, his biggest step back to work following his horror car accident in 2022.
The 46-year-old was “lucky to be alive” after his 210km/h three-wheeled convertible Morgan Super 3 car, which had no airbags, rolled over in December 2022, leaving him with serious facial injuries and several broken ribs. .
It is a significant move for Flintoff following his near-fatal accident and he will be Northern Superchargers’ head coach in the fourth year of the ECB’s 100-ball-a-side competition, after succeeding James Foster at Headingley and being able to start. the selection process thanks to the last place last season.
The 2005 Ashes hero returned to the public eye last September as part of the England squad as they prepared for the Cricket World Cup.
Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is taking the biggest step back to work since his horror accident, having been with the England team in points last year.
Much-loved former England star suffered near-fatal accident in 2022
It was a low-key re-introduction to public life after the horrors of the previous year, in which Flintoff had to wait an agonizing 45 minutes for an air ambulance before spending five weeks in hospital, and some BBC staff who who witnessed the accident were discharged due to indefinite illness. as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The legendary former all-rounder evidently enjoyed his return to cricket with his work in the national team last year and there will be some familiar faces in his Northern Superchargers set-up.
English trio Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Harry Brook, players he has worked with as a mentor for the past eight months, have been signed by the Leeds-based team.
The 2024 draft will take place at The Shard on March 20, with English white-ball stars Dawid Malan and Jason Roy aiming to be among the 32 players selected, after being released by Trent Rockets and reigning champions Oval Invincible respectively.
Another 16 will then be selected as wildcards based on their performances in Vitality Blast.
The Hundred’s fourth season begins at the Kia Oval on July 23 with a double-header between Oval Invincibles and Birmingham Phoenix, the first of 68 matches.
In the women’s competition, Birmingham Phoenix – who have retained both Ellyse Perry from Australia and Sophie Devine from New Zealand – will be the first team chosen in the draft.
It is understood that Flintoff reached a £9m settlement with the BBC after the crisis taking into account the loss of income.
Flintoff returned to the field with the England ODI team during an ODI series last year.
Paddy McGuinness gave an update on his former Top Gear co-host after his horror accident on Good Morning Britain on Monday.
And his wife Rachael reportedly begged him not to work. Last July, he was still covering his face, revealed former teammate Steve Harmison, who said at the time: “It’s been tough, you’ve seen pictures of him with a smile on his face, but I saw it when my son Charlie and his son, Rocky, played against each other and it was great to watch.
Harmison added: “I could see it then, but at the time he was covering his face when he walked – believe it or not, he was training a guide dog and I’m sure he’s doing better now than because he tripped.” He passed about three times while he went around the field!’
This week, Flintoff’s former Top Gear co-host Paddy McGuinness gave an update, saying: “He’s fine.” “I haven’t talked to him in a while, but you know he’s moving on.” Fred is a very resilient character, so I have no doubt that he will be as fine as rain.
Apart from returning to work in the cricket world, Flintoff has no plans to end broadcasting.
He is set to replace James Foster as coach of the Leeds-based team in the ECB 100-ball competition (Harry Brook pictured at the Superchargers in August).
In January it was revealed that Freddie had also been holding meetings with production company South Shore about a second series of his BBC cricket show Field of Dreams.
The former Top Gear presenter has been speaking to the team and filming is expected to begin in the spring.
A TV source told The Sun: ‘Freddie and staff have been quietly working on it since last month.
‘It will be his first big television project in two years. Filming will begin in a few months’ time when it gets warmer and will take place in the north of England.’
Flintoff (right) presented Tom Hartley with his ODI cap against Ireland in September
Last October, when presenting a cap to debutant Tom Hartley, Flintoff admitted that it had been the most difficult few months of his life: “It gives me great pleasure to share what will be a day, Tom, that you will remember.” for the rest of your life. Your journey has not been like many people’s. There were no academies or systems, but to me that suggests a firmness, a determination, a passion that may not be evident on the outside but definitely burns inside.
‘When you get this cap, your life changes. It’s one of those things, it’s before and after. This allows you to walk upright and move faster. He plays with passion, he plays with pride, he plays with faith. And also part of a family of people.
‘They will share with you the good moments, the successes. But as I discovered over the last few months, they will be there in the most difficult moments of your life, they will be by your side.’