Andrew Flintoff footage released for the first time as England cricket icon continues to recover from crash

Andrew Flintoff England cricket

Andrew Flintoff worked with England cricket players last month

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Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 04/10/2023

- 14:31

The 45-year-old sustained injuries to his face and ribs while filming for BBC show 'Top Gear' last year

The ECB have published footage of Andrew Flintoff speaking to England cricket players for the first time.

Last month, the 45-year-old joined the squad for ODI matches against New Zealand and Ireland.

Flintoff sustained serious injuries to his face and ribs last December while filming for BBC show 'Top Gear'.

The all-rounder, who is widely considered to be one of the best English cricketers of all time, was lucky to survive with his life.

Flintoff is yet to speak on camera since the accident. That has now changed, however, with the ECB showing footage of the icon speaking to the squad.

He presented debutant Tom Hartley with his first ODI cap against Ireland and gave a passionate speech about how playing for your country can change your life.

Flintoff spoke of how former England team-mates stood by him during the most difficult moment of his career.

And he also hailed ECB chief Rob Key, too.

Flintoff said: "It gives me so much pleasure to share what's going to be a day Tom you'll remember for the rest of your life.

"Your journey hasn't been like a lot of people's.

"There was no academies, no systems but to me [that] suggests a steeliness, a determination, a passion which might not be evident on the outside but it's definitely burning inside.

"When you get this cap it changes your life.

"It's one of those things, it's before and after it.

"This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also a part of a family of people.

"They'll share the good times with you, the successes.

"But as I found over the past few months, they'll be there in the hardest times of your life, they will stand next to you.

"So like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute.

"It gives me great pleasure to present cap number 272 to Tom Hartley."

Flintoff wasn't paid for his role as England consultant.

And Matthew Mott, England's white ball coach, confirmed last month he was hoping the former Top Gear presenter would work with the squad again in the future.

"He's definitely going to join us again in the future, we've loved having him around," he said.

Meanwhile, former England star Steve Harmison recently told The Mirror that Flintoff had been 'overwhelmed by the outpouring of love' he received after returning to cricket.

Harmison said: "It's great to see him back. He loved every minute of it.

"He was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love with everybody seeing him for the first time since that horrific accident.

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Andrew Flintoff England

Andrew Flintoff became an England cricket icon when he helped the country win The Ashes back in 2005

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"Andrew Flintoff has been a cricket man since he was 10-years-old.

"He's been brought up in it, his dad Colin and all his family were cricket, cricket, cricket. He was destined to play for England from the age of 12.

"He's always had cricket in his life, but unfortunately when he left somebody was going to pay him a lot more money to do things that he was even better at which was to entertain.

"Sometimes it takes a little bit of time away to come back to the thing you love the most and he enjoyed being with the England team.

"Fingers crossed England can somehow keep him involved."

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