Andrew Flintoff appointed head coach of the England Lions. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Cricket great Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was appointed head coach of the England Lions on Saturday (September 7, 2024). The former England captain has been a successful television personality since ending his storied playing career, but his appointment is his latest step into coaching.

“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role with the England Lions. 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,” Flintoff said.

Flintoff has signed up for the winter tours of South Africa and Australia as well as summer fixtures against India A and Zimbabwe. Since returning to cricket over the past year, the 46-year-old has been an assistant coach at this summer’s T20 World Cup.

He led the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. He is currently standing in for batting coach Marcus Trescothick for England for this week’s test against Sri Lanka.

Flintoff, who was an all-rounder, played 79 Tests for England and was the 2005 Ashes player of the series.

In December 2022, Flintoff sustained facial injuries from an accident that occurred during filming for “Top Gear” at the show’s test track in Surrey.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said Flintoff was the “standout candidate from a pool of high-caliber applicants.”

“Andrew stood out thanks to his inspirational leadership, coaching expertise, and deep understanding of the game,” said Ed Barney, the ECB men’s performance director.

Flintoff begins his role in October and will take charge for the upcoming year. The Lions program helps to develop the next generation of cricket talent.

“With Andrew’s guidance, the highest potential players will continue to develop, thrive, and take their game to new levels,” Barney said. “I’m confident his influence will resonate across English cricket, helping drive the game forward.”

Since retiring from the sport — initially in 2010 and then in 2014 — Flintoff has featured in popular TV shows like “Top Gear” and “A League of Their Own.” He also had a short-lived attempt at boxing.

England head coach Brendon McCullum and Ollie Pope during a nets session at The Kia Oval, London, Wednesday Sept. 4, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Stand-in Test captain Ollie Pope said Brendon McCullum can transform the fortunes of England’s limited-overs teams in the same way he has reinvigorated the red-ball side.

England cricket chiefs on Tuesday (September 3, 2024) announced the New Zealander would take charge of all formats from January and that he has extended his contract until the end of 2027.

“We’ve seen the impact he’s had on us as a Test team and as individuals, which I think he can then transfer into the white-ball stuff as well,” said Pope, speaking ahead of the third Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Friday.

“He brings the best out of each other. He’s a real optimist and I think that’s really good in the cricket world. So, very exciting for English cricket overall.”

McCullum, 42, inherits white-ball teams that have surrendered titles in the 50-over and 20-over world cups in the past 12 months.

When the former New Zealand captain took charge of England’s Test side in May 2022 they were at a low ebb, with just one win in 17 games.

But under his leadership they have won 19 of their 28 Tests, playing an exciting attacking game that has been labelled “Bazball”.

Pope, who has struggled with the bat in recent matches, said McCullum had given him confidence and freedom in his personal game.

“He’s got a great outlook on the game in general and just being able to kind of draw a line under your best and your worst weeks as well,” said the batter, who is deputising as skipper for the injured Ben Stokes.

“I think that’s probably one of his biggest skills as a player, but now he’s sort of got that into his coaching as well. He’s a massive optimist.”

England, 2-0 up in the three-match series against Sri Lanka, have brought in left-arm seamer Josh Hull for the final Test at The Oval.

The two-metre tall 20-year-old, who only made his first-class debut last year, replaces Matthew Potts.

England are just one win away from completing a clean sweep of home Test triumphs for the first time since 2004, having moved on emphatically from a disappointing 4-1 defeat by India in the winter.

Before the Sri Lanka series they beat West Indies 3-0.

“It’d be special to win 6-0 this summer,” said Pope. “And I think winning’s a habit, isn’t it? So I think going forward it’ll put us in good stead. And obviously we’ve got a lot more cricket to come.”

Pope was asked whether taking on the captaincy was affecting his batting — he has mustered just 30 runs in four innings against Sri Lanka so far.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” he said. “I think last week I played a pretty average shot in the first dig (innings), which could happen. But that’s nothing to do with the captaincy.”

England’s Ben Stokes announced his intention to play ODI cricket again earlier this month. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

England limited-overs captain Jos Buttler hailed “superstar” Ben Stokes following his decision to come out of one-day international retirement.

Stokes called time on his 50-over career last year due to concerns over his punishing workload and a knee problem.

However, the England Test skipper announced his intention to play ODI cricket again earlier this month and has been named in the squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, with the World Cup in India looming in October.

Also Read | Paine hits out at Stokes for coming out of ODI retirement to play in World Cup

England, world champions in both white-ball formats, play the Black Caps in four T20s and four ODIs and Buttler admitted he was “delighted” to have Stokes back in the fold.

“It’s excellent news on all fronts, said Buttler. “It’s great for cricket to have a superstar like Ben Stokes in a World Cup.

“You want to see those players in those major showpiece events so it’s fantastic that he’s made himself available.

“When a player of that calibre is available again it’s a no-brainer really that you want them back in your team.”

Stokes played a pivotal role in England’s 2019 World Cup triumph, scoring an unbeaten 84 in the final against New Zealand before starring in the Super Over alongside Buttler.

“You look at the impact he has in every game he plays really, but especially in the last couple of World Cups (including the 2022 T20 World Cup), he’s the man in the middle with the crucial moment,” said Buttler.

“We’re delighted to have him back. It’s not just the cricket but everything else he brings to the group.”

All-rounder Stokes, 32, will be returning to the ODI squad as a specialist batter and Buttler said he made his decision following the conclusion of the recent Ashes series, which ended 2-2.

“He said he’d be available as a batter and that was enough for me to just say ‘brilliant, can’t wait to have you back’,” said Buttler.

England open the 20-over section of the New Zealand series at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday.

The first ODI takes place in Cardiff on September 8.

Although England have one eye on the World Cup later this year, Buttler is looking forward to a “great test” against the Black Caps.

“It’s great to be back together as a squad having not played together since Bangladesh in March,” he said.

“It’s very exciting stuff on the horizon obviously with the World Cup in India, but we start with the T20 series here against New Zealand which we’re determined to do well in.

“Of course I suppose the main priority is the ODIs against New Zealand — I think they’ll be a great test for us ahead of the World Cup.”