Andrew Flintoff has been appointed head coach of the England Men's Lions side.
The former England all-rounder will take up the role in October to oversee a tour of South Africa followed by trip to Australia in January. His contract will run through series against India A and Zimbabwe over the 2025 England home summer.
His appointment comes after Flintoff was brought back into the game through various coaching roles within the England men's set-up. He first joined the England coaching group at the end of last summer, working with the white-ball side in the build-up to the 2023 World Cup, and was appointed as an assistant coach during the 2024 T20 World Cup and Test series against the West Indies. He was also appointed as head coach of the men's Northern Superchargers side during this summer's Hundred. The Superchargers finished fourth in the table, missing out on the knockout stages of the competition on net run rate.
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special yesterday (September 6), Rob Key, England men's high performance director and friend of Flintoff, said: "Freddie [Flintoff] is loving coaching. He will do more stuff with us in the winter. Sometimes it is a trait that is not spoken about enough - he is kind. All of the things Fred can be, funny, extrovert, he is kind. It is an underrated quality. Brendon and Fred might not be ones that plan the best but are the ones that make you feel the best.
"Players won't remember the tactics you told them three days before the game but they will always remember how you make them feel. You can have tactics that are fantastic but if it is not the right environment it is not going to work. Sometimes it is a mad tactic but the people feel empowered."
England's last Lions squad for their recent first-class match against Sri Lanka included five teenagers. Those young players included Farhan Ahmed - younger brother of Rehan Ahmed - and Josh Hull, who was subsequently called up to the senior England Test side and awarded his maiden cap by Flintoff.
Speaking on his appointment to the role, Flintoff said: "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. The Lions programme has always been a vital stepping stone for players pushing for international success, and I'm honoured to be a part of that journey."
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