Flintoff lined up for new job as England legend returns after Top Gear crash

FREDDIE FLINTOFF is in contention to become England’s next white-ball cricket coach after leading the Northern Superchargers at The Hundred.

Matthew Mott is expected to leave his post imminently, as former captain Eoin Morgan distanced himself from the position this week.

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Morgan, 37, said: “The timing is not right” chiefly because he has a young family and is enjoying his current job as an analyst with Sky Sports.

Rob Key, the director of England cricket, is undertaking a review into the white-ball team after another underwhelming run.

The former double-world champs were dumped out in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup against India last month.

England lost both their world titles in a matter of months following last autumn’s first-round exit from the 50-over tournament in India.

Key will speak to Mott and captain Jos Buttler this week, although it is thought the Australian coach has accepted that he’ll likely lose his job.

Flintoff is now thought to be close to the top of the list of replacements for Mott.

This comes after the 2005 Ashes hero spent time with England’s white-ball squads as a consultant earlier this year.

Flintoff, 46, was encouraged to return to cricket by good pal Key after his life-threatening car accident while shooting a Top Gear skit in 2022.

What is white-ball cricket?

White ball cricket, also known as limited overs cricket or one-day cricket, is a version of cricket that usually takes place in one day.

White balls are used in white ball cricket matches, which include T20 tournaments and one day events.

There are a number of formats, including List A cricket (8-hour games), Twenty20 cricket (3-hour games), and 100-ball cricket (2.5 hours).

Flintoff was handed his first head coaching role with Northern Superchargers in this year’s Hundred.

And after positive feedback from England’s players it is seen as a possible stepping stone to the top job.

Newly retired England cricketer Stuart Broad admitted: “The players I’ve spoken to, when Freddie has been involved in the coaching stuff, have loved him.

“For him to go into a changing room and hear him speak about the style he wants them to play is really exciting.

“Ultimately, he has ended up as one of the coaches of The Hundred franchises, I’m sure with half an eye on building him towards being an international coach in the future.”

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Meanwhile Mott signed a four-year contract in May 2022 and guided England to victory in the ICC World cup against Pakistan just six months later.

Mike Hussey, the former Australia international who was part of England’s coaching staff when they won the T20 World Cup in 2022, is believed to be another name in the frame.

Elsewhere, Flintoff’s 16-year-old son Rocky has been following in his dad’s footsteps after becoming the youngest player to score a century for England in an unofficial Test last week.

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