Andrew Flintoff to step down as England's coaching staff member
Andrew Flintoff, the former England all-rounder, is set to step down as the coaching staff member of England's men's white-ball teams. This decision comes ahead of their upcoming white-ball series against Australia. The move is part of a restructuring process initiated by Marcus Trescothick, who has recently taken over as the interim white-ball coach and is now assembling his own team. Here are further details.
Flintoff's journey with England and Northern Superchargers
Flintoff, a key player in England's 2005 Ashes victory, has been working with the national team for the past year as a consultant. His contributions included serving as an assistant coach during the T20 World Cup in June this year. However, his role was on a consultancy basis rather than a full-time contract. The 46-year-old also took up his first major coaching role this season with Northern Superchargers in The Hundred tournament.
Flintoff's rapport with Buttler and Trescothick's influence
Flintoff's departure from the England coaching setup seems to be influenced by his rapport with England's white-ball captain, Jos Buttler. Reports suggest that Flintoff and Buttler do not fully gel. On the other hand, Buttler shares a strong bond with Trescothick from their early professional years at Somerset. Trescothick has played a significant role in shaping Buttler's batting skills and is seen as the preferred choice for guiding the team's future.
Flintoff's slow return to cricket post-accident
After a serious car crash while filming Top Gear in December 2022, Flintoff's return to cricket was gradual. He began with scouting roles and later worked with age-group sides. Despite his departure from the coaching staff, Flintoff remains passionate about the sport. "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," he said as quoted by The Telegraph.
