Andrew Flintoff insists he has little interest in succeeding Brendon McCullum as England head coach.
Flintoff is overseeing the fortunes of England Lions and Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, having returned to cricket following his Top Gear crash that left him with severe facial and rib injuries.
He has been linked with the highest England post, possibly if McCullum opts against extending his contract with the national side that covers all three formats and runs as much as and including the 2027 World Cup.
But Flintoff rejected the notion, as an alternative selecting to focus on how big a fan of McCullum he’s, likening the Recent Zealander’s influence to Sir Gareth Southgate with the England football team from 2016-24.
Asked in regards to the prospect of taking up from McCullum, the 2005 Ashes hero told the Keep on with Cricket podcast: “It’s not something I’m , Baz McCullum is incredible – the very best England coach.
“He’s unbelievable and the culture he’s created is incredible. It’s just like what Gareth Southgate did with the football lads; they aren’t just good players but great lads as well.
“I’m having fun with working under Keysy (England managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key), it’s no secret he’s considered one of my best mates and he’s helped me a lot in other things. With Baz, we’ve got an important relationship and the utmost respect.”
Flintoff’s Coaching
Flintoff, a former England captain, initially joined then white-ball head coach Matthew Mott‘s backroom team on an ad-hoc basis in September 2023 although he didn’t travel to that yr’s World Cup in India.
He was, nevertheless, involved afterwards and a part of England’s coaching staff ultimately yr’s T20 World Cup, which following a semi-final exit led to Australian Mott’s sacking.
Flintoff last yr lifted the Superchargers to inside a whisker of the knockout stages in his first season, after they’d finished bottom of the standings the yr before, while he presided over a tour to Australia last winter with the Lions, who’ve recently drawn two unofficial Tests against India A.
The 47-year-old former all-rounder added: “Truthfully, in the intervening time, I feel as if I’m in the proper place working with the Lions. I don’t see this as a stepping stone to anything, I’m invested on this and get a likelihood to work with these lads.
“I’m not the franchise world or anything, although I do the Northern Superchargers which got here around last yr and I enjoy working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that.
“I’ve been guilty of, within the TV world and in retirement, of all the time in search of the following thing, chasing things. I’m actually really blissful, working with great lads and great staff around me. I believe ‘I’ve got a job to do here’ and it’s not like ‘what’s next?’.”
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