The hero of the 2005 Ashes, who performed over 200 occasions for his nation throughout all codecs, will change James Foster, who was let go by Superchargers on Friday. Whereas Flintoff has no head coach expertise, the transfer is a major milestone in his return to cricket.
Flintoff, 45, has been steadily returning to public life by means of cricket following a crash final December whereas filming an episode of Prime Gear, assisted by good pal Rob Key, England Males’s managing director. Flintoff spent the summer season working behind closed doorways with England U19s and just lately accomplished an unpaid stint with the ODI squad throughout their collection in opposition to Eire. This week, he’ll journey to the UAE as a part of the teaching group for an England Lions coaching camp and is predicted to tour the Caribbean for England’s white-ball matches in opposition to West Indies in December.
Since retiring in 2010, Flintoff moved away from the sport and into leisure, turning into a number on BBC’s Prime Gear in 2018. He has dabbled in commentary, notably in 2021 when he was a part of the published group for the inaugural season of the Hundred, and likewise retained a connection to the sport by means of his sons Corey and Rocky, who’re on the pathway at Flintoff’s county, Lancashire.
Regardless of by no means holding a head coach position, Flintoff utilized for the England job in 2014 when Trevor Bayliss introduced he can be leaving the next 12 months. Having emailed to register his curiosity, he solely obtained a response a month later upon chasing up his utility, earlier than receiving a telephone name from somebody on the ECB who didn’t realise it was real.
As a Hundred coach, Flintoff’s duties will probably be restricted past the competitors itself and he will probably be concerned in working the rule over retaining gamers and negotiating subsequent 12 months’s draft forward of the 2024 season.
“I’m excited to have been appointed Head Coach of the Northern Superchargers males’s group,” Flintoff stated. “My time with the England Males’s group has been a reminder of simply how particular cricket is to me, and I am relishing the chance to be again amongst it, serving to to information the Superchargers group to success on the sphere whereas making recollections off it and serving to to take cricket to extra individuals.
“The Superchargers have a terrific fan base who I can not wait to satisfy and produce together with us this season. I am wanting ahead to creating Headingley my new house.”
Northern Superchargers chair Kirsty Bashforth stated: “We’re thrilled to welcome Andrew to the Northern Superchargers household. He’s an inspirational determine who has enormous respect throughout the sport of cricket and he’s somebody we all know will excite our gamers, coaches, and our followers. Andrew will assist us to create a singular tradition and we’re extraordinarily enthusiastic about working with him to encourage our squad additional with constructive, entertaining and constantly successful cricket.”
