Andrew Flintoff says Rob Key’s influence at the ECB is the main reason he has returned to cricket in a full-time capacity, describing his long-time friend as “England’s best captain never to a captain the side”.
Speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, the former all-rounder revealed that Key, now managing director of England men’s cricket, helped coax him back into the public eye following the Top Gear car accident of December 2022. The move has progressed from a few quiet days as a white-ball consultant to Flintoff being confirmed as England Lions head coach for the parallel tour of Australia this winter.
“His cricket brain works in a different way to a lot of other people,” Flintoff said. “He’s similar to Shane Warne and people like that, they see the game differently.”
That shared perspective dates to under-19 days, yet Flintoff insists Key’s current role suits him even more than life in the middle. “You’re always going to have your critics. You can go into Wetherspoons down the road, and there’ll be 15 people who know better than Pep Guardiola. Everyone’s got an opinion, but I think he enjoys being the one making the decisions. He loved playing, but by doing this job, he can make an impact, and he wants to do it his way.”
Key has set the tone for the wider senior set-up since appointing Brendon McCullum as Test coach and backing Ben Stokes’ instinctive brand of leadership. Results have been mixed, yet the method – attack with both bat and ball, back players’ instincts – has won supporters on and off the field. Flintoff, unsurprisingly, is among them.
“I think what they’ve done – himself [Key], Brendon, Stokes, now Harry [Brook]’s taken over in one-day cricket – as a fan, it’s been amazing,” he said. “The way they play and the players they pick, they seem really good lads from the outside. I suppose that’s one of the reasons I wanted to be involved in this.”
If all goes to plan, the Lions programme will dovetail with England’s Ashes campaign down the road. Stokes’ men are chasing a first series win in Australia since 2010-11, and Flintoff knows better than most how hard that is, having captained the 5-0 defeat of 2006-07. This time, he argues, the leadership is a clear strength.
“I do see similarities, but as a leader, he’s incredible,” Flintoff said of Stokes. “I captained England, and I was terrible. I really was. It wasn’t for me, but you see him … he’s got that atmosphere. He’s got that aura.”
Flintoff’s admiration centres on Stokes’ ability to surge when the contest tightens. “One of the things which I prided myself on as a player was, when the game’s on the line, that’s when the best of me came out. And I see that with Ben. Playing against Zimbabwe in Harare, I’m probably not going to at be my best, you know, but in the big moments, that’s when I came alive, and that’s when Ben does.”
For all the praise, Flintoff is acutely aware his own assignment is different. Success with the Lions is measured less by wins and more by how many players push through to senior honours. Emerging quicks such as Josh Tongue and Brydon Carse will demand careful management, while the batting group features players still polishing techniques for Australian pitches. Flintoff admits the transition from performer to mentor is not always seamless, yet it excites him.
“English cricket’s going forward. We’re leading the way in a lot of respects, and I want to be a part of that,” he said. “By doing the Lions, I’m getting a chance to get involved and hopefully bring the next lads through. I’m very much on the same page of what they’re trying to do with England, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.”
Key, for his part, has remained typically understated, telling county chairs last week that Flintoff’s presence “adds an edge” to the pathway. Off-record, several players say simply that having Freddie around lifts training intensity without a word being spoken.
Both men share an appetite for attacking cricket – and, at times, for bowling one spell too many in search of a wicket. Flintoff laughs at the suggestion that this impatience might unsettle younger bowlers, pointing out that modern analytics and workload monitoring will keep everyone honest. Still, he hopes the Lions will learn the same lesson he once did under Duncan Fletcher: take the positive option, then own the consequences.
Whether that mindset translates into Ashes success for Stokes’ side or merely stokes competition for future places, Flintoff is clear about what comes next. He plans to stay with the programme “for as long as they’ll have me”, adding with a grin that Key may yet find new ways to deploy him. Judging by their history, it would be unwise to rule anything out.
