Andrew Flintoff continues his impressive rise through the coaching ranks after being named the new head coach of the England men's Lions. The former England all-rounder, who played 79 Tests, will officially begin his role in October. Flintoff’s first assignment will be leading the Lions on tours to South Africa before Christmas and then to Australia in January for a red-ball series, aimed at preparing for the 2025-26 Ashes. The Lions will also host India A and Zimbabwe next summer. His responsibilities will include performance planning, player development, team selection, and reviews with county teams, all while maintaining his current role as head coach of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
This position marks Flintoff's most challenging role since his return to cricket in 2023, following a serious car accident while filming Top Gear in December 2022. Flintoff discussed this difficult period of his life in the second season of his BBC documentary Field of Dreams. With the support of close friend and men's managing director Rob Key, Flintoff gradually took on consultancy roles with the national team, later becoming an assistant coach during the 2023 Caribbean tour and T20 World Cup. He is currently part of the coaching team for the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval and recently presented Josh Hull with his debut Test cap.
Over the summer, Flintoff also took charge as head coach of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, narrowly missing out on the playoffs. His quick rise to a prestigious coaching position—despite not going through a public recruitment process for his Superchargers role—led to some questions about the ECB’s hiring approach. However, in response to his appointment as Lions head coach, which was publicly advertised, the ECB clarified that Flintoff was chosen as the standout candidate from a pool of strong applicants.
In his statement, Flintoff expressed his excitement, calling it a fantastic opportunity to work with emerging talent and help shape the future of the men’s game. He pinpointed the importance of the Lions programme in preparing players for international success and said he was honoured to be a part of that process. Flintoff added that he’s passionate about inspiring the next generation and believes English cricket is in a healthy position with a strong foundation for future success.
Ed Barney, the ECB men's performance director, praised Flintoff’s leadership and vision, noting that it aligns with the playing style developed under Brendon McCullum for the England men's team. He highlighted the Lions programme as essential for developing the next generation of players and expressed confidence that Flintoff's guidance would help these players grow and thrive. Barney added that Flintoff’s influence would be felt across English cricket, driving the sport forward in an exciting direction.