Latest news with #Flintoff
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Flintoff rules himself out of top England coaching job
ANDREW FLINTOFF said he has no desire to succeed Brendon McCullum as England head coach despite cutting his teeth with the second-string England Lions. The former England captain has returned to cricket coaching the Lions, as well as the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, after a car crash while filming for the BBC Top Gear television programme that left him with severe facial and rib injuries. His impact on the Lions has resulted in the charismatic former all rounder beinglinked with the top England coaching post, especially if McCullum opts against extending his contract with the national side that covers all three formats and runs up to and including the 2027 World Cup. Flintoff has rejected the suggestion, instead highlighting his admiration for McCullum by comparing his influence to that of Gareth Southgate with the England football team from 2016-24. Asked about the prospect of taking over from McCullum, 2005 Ashes hero Flintoff told the Stick to Cricket podcast: 'It's not something I'm looking at, Baz McCullum is incredible -- the best England coach. 'He's unbelievable and the culture he's created is incredible. It's similar to what Gareth Southgate did with the football lads; they are not just good players but great lads as well. 'I'm enjoying working under Keysy (England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key), it's no secret he's one of my best mates and he's helped me so much in other things. With Baz, we've got a great relationship and the utmost respect.' Flintoff initially joined then England white-ball head coach Matthew Mott's backroom team on an ad-hoc basis in September 2023, although he did not travel to that year's World Cup in India. He was, however, a member of England's staff at last year's T20 World Cup, where a semi-final exit led to Australian coach Mott's sacking. Flintoff last year took the Superchargers close to the knockout stages in his first season, after they had finished bottom of the standings the year before. He also oversaw a tour of Australia last winter with the Lions, who have recently drawn two unofficial Tests against India A. 'Honestly, at the moment, I feel as though I'm in the perfect place working with the Lions. I don't see this as a stepping stone to anything else, I'm invested in this and get a chance to work with these lads,' added the 47-year-old. 'I'm not looking at the franchise world or anything else, although I do the Northern Superchargers which came around last year and I enjoy working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that. 'I think 'I've got a job to do here' and it's not like 'what's next?'.'
Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Flintoff not thinking about becoming England coach
Agencies Iconic England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff says he has not thought about the prospect of replacing Brendon McCullum as head coach, reports Flintoff, 47, who played 227 times for England between 1998 and 2009, was appointed coach of England Lions – the development side below the senior XI – last year as he returned to cricket following his life-threatening crash on the set of Top Gear. He has also worked with the senior squad as an assistant and is the head coach of Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, leading to suggestions he could replace New Zealander McCullum, who is contracted until 2027. 'It's not something I'm looking at. Baz McCullum is incredible - the best England coach,' Flintoff told the Stick to Cricket podcast. 'Honestly, at the moment, I feel as though I'm in the perfect place working with the Lions. 'I don't see this as a stepping stone to anything else, I'm invested in this and get a chance to work with these lads.' Flintoff led the Lions on trips to South Africa and Australia in the winter and, having been with England Under-19s for their win against India in Northampton on Monday, joined the full squad at their practice on Tuesday in Birmingham before the second Test against India. McCullum was made England Test coach in 2022 and has overhauled the side by implementing a positive approach since. At the start of the year he also took on the role of England white-ball coach, having replaced Australian Matthew Mott who was sacked last year. Flintoff worked under Mott on a temporary basis, first in September 2023 and then at the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean last year. He is also a long-time friend of England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key, who has said Flintoff would make an excellent head coach in the future. 'I'm enjoying working under Keysy,' said Flintoff, a crucial player in England's famous 2005 Ashes win. 'It's no secret he's one of my best mates and he's helped me so much in other things. With Baz, we've got a great relationship and the utmost respect.'
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Flintoff rules himself out of top England coaching job
LONDON: Andrew Flintoff said he has no desire to succeed Brendon McCullum as England head coach despite cutting his teeth with the second-string England Lions. The former England captain has returned to cricket, coaching the Lions as well as the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, after a car crash while filming for the BBC Top Gear television programme that left him with severe facial and rib injuries. His impact on the Lions has resulted in the charismatic former all-rounder being linked with the top England coaching post, especially if McCullum opts against extending his contract with the national side that covers all three formats and runs up to and including the 2027 World Cup. Flintoff has rejected the suggestion, instead highlighting his admiration for McCullum by comparing his influence to that of Gareth Southgate with the England football team from 2016-24. Asked about the prospect of taking over from McCullum, 2005 Ashes hero Flintoff told the Stick to Cricket podcast: "It's not something I'm looking at, Baz McCullum is incredible – the best England coach. "He's unbelievable and the culture he's created is incredible. It's similar to what Gareth Southgate did with the football lads; they are not just good players but great lads as well. "I'm enjoying working under Keysy (England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key). It's no secret he's one of my best mates and he's helped me so much in other things. With Baz, we've got a great relationship and the utmost respect." Flintoff initially joined then England white-ball boss Matthew Mott's backroom team on an ad-hoc basis in September 2023, and was a member of staff at last year's T20 World Cup, where a semi-final exit led to Australian coach Mott's sacking. Flintoff last year took the Superchargers close to the knockout stages in his first season, after they had finished bottom of the standings the year before. He also oversaw a tour of Australia last winter with the Lions, who have recently drawn two unofficial Tests against India A. "Honestly, at the moment, I feel as though I'm in the perfect place working with the Lions. I don't see this as a stepping stone to anything else, I'm invested in this and get a chance to work with these lads," added the 47-year-old. "I'm not looking at the franchise world or anything else, although I do the Northern Superchargers which came around last year and I enjoy working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that. "I think 'I've got a job to do here' and it's not like 'what's next?'." Both Flintoff and fellow former England all-rounder Moeen Ali have been working with the current side ahead of the second Test against India at Edgbaston starting Wednesday. "It's been a constant thing for us to get some of the greats who have represented England into the environment, helping out," England captain Ben Stokes told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.
NDTV
a day ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Not Something I'm Looking At": England Great On Replacing Brendon McCullum As Head Coach
Andrew Flintoff said he has no desire to succeed Brendon McCullum as England head coach despite cutting his teeth with the second-string England Lions. The former England captain has returned to cricket coaching the Lions, as well as the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, after a car crash while filming for the BBC Top Gear television programme that left him with severe facial and rib injuries. His impact on the Lions has resulted in the charismatic former all rounder beinglinked with the top England coaching post, especially if McCullum opts against extending his contract with the national side that covers all three formats and runs up to and including the 2027 World Cup. Flintoff has rejected the suggestion, instead highlighting his admiration for McCullum by comparing his influence to that of Gareth Southgate with the England football team from 2016-24. Asked about the prospect of taking over from McCullum, 2005 Ashes hero Flintoff told the Stick to Cricket podcast: "It's not something I'm looking at, Baz McCullum is incredible –- the best England coach. "He's unbelievable and the culture he's created is incredible. It's similar to what Gareth Southgate did with the football lads; they are not just good players but great lads as well. "I'm enjoying working under Keysy (England managing director of men's cricket Rob Key), it's no secret he's one of my best mates and he's helped me so much in other things. With Baz, we've got a great relationship and the utmost respect." Flintoff initially joined then England white-ball head coach Matthew Mott's backroom team on an ad-hoc basis in September 2023, although he did not travel to that year's World Cup in India. He was, however, a member of England's staff at last year's T20 World Cup, where a semi-final exit led to Australian coach Mott's sacking. Flintoff last year took the Superchargers close to the knockout stages in his first season, after they had finished bottom of the standings the year before. He also oversaw a tour of Australia last winter with the Lions, who have recently drawn two unofficial Tests against India A. "Honestly, at the moment, I feel as though I'm in the perfect place working with the Lions. I don't see this as a stepping stone to anything else, I'm invested in this and get a chance to work with these lads," added the 47-year-old. "I'm not looking at the franchise world or anything else, although I do the Northern Superchargers which came around last year and I enjoy working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that. "I think 'I've got a job to do here' and it's not like 'what's next?'."
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'I nearly joined WWE, money was obscene': Former cricketer makes massive revelation
WWE (AP Photo) Former England cricket all-rounder Andrew Flintoff nearly transitioned to professional wrestling after his cricket career ended. He was in negotiations with World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) and came close to signing a contract for a match against The Undertaker . After retiring from cricket, Flintoff explored various career options when he received broadcasting opportunities and discovered WWE as a potential path. "I just hid for a bit and started to wonder, 'What am I going to do now?' Some of the TV offers started to come, which was never the plan – I stumbled into that," Flintoff told The Overlap's "Stick to Cricket" podcast. "I nearly joined the WWE, I didn't want to box, that was never the plan. I would have been called 'Big Fred'" Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "What happened was, it got to a point in Dubai where I was unfit, I'd put on weight and was just not in a good place. I wanted to get fit again, but I needed motivation. As a kid, I loved WWE, so I came up with this idea, because I was doing League of Their Own with Sky, to fight the Undertaker in Manchester" Flintoff's idea reached WWE co-founder Vince McMahon , leading to direct communications between them. He began training for a potential showdown with The Undertaker in Manchester. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "I wrote this treatment up and presented the idea to Sky, it started gathering momentum and next minute it's being passed onto WWE. I was in contact with the WWE, Vince McMahon" "Dave Roberts, who was a physiotherapist and lived with us (England cricket team) throughout my career, lived with us and looked after us. I asked him to send a trainer over to Dubai for six weeks because I needed to bulk up. He sent this fella over, I trained my nuts off, got fit and then the WWE flew me to Tampa. Me and the missus have gone over to Tampa, I've got two weeks at wrestling academy." Poll Should Andrew Flintoff have pursued a career in WWE? Yes, it would have been exciting No, boxing was a better choice Maybe, depending on his fitness I have no opinion on this The reality of professional wrestling training proved to be physically demanding for Flintoff. "They fly us over business class, next morning we get in the car and go to WWE's academy, two massive units all branded. We're sitting in the car and these things are walking past me, like 6ft 8in monsters," Flintoff continued. "So I go in and we do the warm-ups, then they put me in the ring for three hours and I just ran the ropes, I'd run into someone and they'd throw me. The second day I went in there, I had lashes all down my back and my missus said, 'Are you alright with this?' I was sore and thought something's not right here. I said to this physio, 'I think I'm having a back spasm,' so they're all like, 'Oh! The English lad has got a back spasm,' so they put me on the couch, he's pushing me and I can feel my ribs separating" WWE offered Flintoff a three-year contract with opportunities to perform at major events like WrestleMania and Royal Rumble within 18 months. "The money was obscene, but we (family) wanted to move back from Dubai. The kids wanted to play cricket and didn't want to go to America, so I just changed it to boxing and had a fight instead," he admitted. Despite the lucrative offer, Flintoff ultimately chose to pursue boxing and return to the UK with his family instead of accepting the WWE contract. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
