Stuart Broad hailed Andrew Flintoff as a “legend of the game” whose temporary presence in England’s backroom ranks will have a motivational impact on the dressing room.
Flintoff is the only England player to do the double of amassing more than 400 runs and 20 wickets in an Ashes series, doing so during the seminal 2005 edition, where the Lancastrian became a national treasure.
Broad, who brought his record-breaking career to a finish after the drawn Ashes this summer, pointed out Flintoff would have been an inspirational figure to many within the contemporary England set-up.
The 45-year-old former England captain surprised many by joining the coaching staff in an unofficial, unpaid capacity for their ongoing four-match ODI series against New Zealand.
“I think ultimately: look at the players in this side and it would have been Freddie that inspired them,” Broad said on Sky Sports.
“He is an icon and a legend of the game and just to spend some time with him and pick his brain, (there is an) aura that he has within the group.”
Flintoff remains a highly popular figure and has received a swell of support as he was pictured during Friday’s series-opening ODI in Cardiff, believed to be his first public appearance since suffering serious injuries after crashing his car during a stunt for the BBC’s Top Gear programme in December.
Broad had a brief conversation with his former England team-mate – the pair played 10 Tests together between 2008 and 2009 – at Sophia Gardens and feels Flintoff will feel the benefit of his short stint which is not expected to last beyond the end of this series.
Indeed Broad reckons Flintoff, whose international career comprised of 79 Tests, 141 ODIs and seven T20s, is a natural with the fielding drills he conducted in the Welsh capital.
“He’s great, I saw him at Cardiff and had 10 minutes with him, he was in really fine form,” Broad added.
“He has been doing some work with the England Under-19s which he really enjoyed. He’d just arrived in Cardiff to settle in with this group for this series.
“For him – I know it’s a training shirt – but the opportunity to pull on those Three Lions is really special and I actually saw him mitting (catching throws from) Mark Wood.
“I can’t imagine he’s done loads of mitting, he was really good at it – I don’t know why I am surprised but he was good at it. Certainly better than (England assistant coach David) Saker whose job it is to catch it!”
Stokes to have scan on hamstring injury before Pakistan tour
Ben Stokes will have a scan on his hamstring injury next week with the England captain in a race to be fit for their first Test in Pakistan.
Stokes sustained the injury at the start of August and was subsequently absent from the series win over Sri Lanka.
The 33-year-old revealed earlier this month he was being cautious with his recovery rather than risking further damage with a premature return.
As well as netting throughout his recovery, Stokes has also featured in this week's Celebrity Pro-Am at the PGA Championship in Wentworth.
Despite the issue, he has been named as captain of England's 17-man squad, which is due to depart on October 1 before beginning the three-match series six days later.
England paceman Wood sidelined until 2025 with elbow injury
England bowler Mark Wood will miss the remainder of 2024 after sustaining an injury to his right elbow.
Wood played a full part in the first Test versus Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last month, despite suffering from stiffness and discomfort while bowling during July's series against West Indies.
Wood managed two wickets in that match as England sealed a five-wicket victory, but he was then replaced by Olly Stone for the second Test at Lord's, which ended in another comprehensive home win.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now confirmed Wood's injury will rule him out of red-ball tours of Pakistan in October and New Zealand in December.
The ECB said it will closely monitor Wood's rehabilitation ahead of a potential return to action in early 2025, with England embarking on a white-ball tour of India – their first with Brendon McCullum in charge of their limited-over sides – in January.
They then head to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins on February 19.
Bairstow and Moeen left out of England's white-ball squad
Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali have both been left out of England's white-ball series squad, with five uncapped players named.
As Jos Buttler looks to the future, Warwickshire batting all-rounders, Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley, have been given their first international call-ups for the three-match T20 series against Australia next month.
Essex batter Jordan Cox, Hampshire seamer John Turner and Leicestershire left-arm bowler Josh Hull, who was named as Mark Wood's replacement in the Test squad to play Sri Lanka, have also been picked.
The latter three will also be involved for the five one-day internationals that follow.
World Cup winners Bairstow and Moeen, who have been regular fixtures in England's white-ball squad for over a decade, could have made their final international appearances after being left out of the squad, with Chris Jordan also being overlooked.
Brydon Carse, however, has been recalled for both squads after serving a betting ban, while Saqib Mahmood returns for the T20 series after recovering from injury. Buttler will also be fit to feature after overcoming a calf injury.
Marcus Trescothick will lead England for the first time against Australia after being named Matthew Mott's interim replacement.
Mott left in July following England's semi-final exit to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup, having also failed to help England defend their 50-over world title in 2023.
The first match of the T20 series will take place on September 11 at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
England T20 squad to play Australia:
Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dan Mousley, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, John Turner.
England ODI squad: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner.
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