Andrew Flintoff insists he has no real 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 High Gear crash that left him with extreme facial and rib accidents.
He has been linked with the highest England publish, probably if McCullum opts towards extending his contract with the nationwide aspect that covers all three codecs and runs as much as and together with the 2027 World Cup.
However Flintoff rejected the notion, as a substitute selecting to focus on how large a fan of McCullum he’s, likening the New Zealander’s affect to Sir Gareth Southgate with the England football crew from 2016-24.
Requested in regards to the prospect of taking up from McCullum, the 2005 Ashes hero advised the Persist with Cricket podcast: “It’s not one thing I’m taking a look at, Baz McCullum is unimaginable – one of the best England coach.
“He’s unbelievable and the tradition he’s created is unimaginable. It’s just like what Gareth Southgate did with the soccer lads; they don’t seem to be simply good gamers however nice lads as effectively.
“I’m having fun with working underneath Keysy (England managing director of males’s cricket Rob Key), it’s no secret he’s certainly one of my finest mates and he’s helped me a lot in different issues. With Baz, we’ve acquired an amazing relationship and the utmost respect.”
Flintoff, a former England captain, initially joined then white-ball head coach Matthew Mott’s backroom crew on an ad-hoc foundation in September 2023 though he didn’t journey to that 12 months’s World Cup in India.
He was, nonetheless, concerned afterwards and a part of England’s teaching workers finally 12 months’s T20 World Cup, which following a semi-final exit led to Australian Mott’s sacking.
Flintoff final 12 months lifted the Superchargers to inside a whisker of the knockout phases in his first season, after that they had completed backside of the standings the 12 months earlier than, whereas he presided over a tour to Australia final winter with the Lions, who’ve not too long ago drawn two unofficial Exams towards India A.
The 47-year-old former all-rounder added: “Truthfully, in the mean time, I really feel as if I’m within the good place working with the Lions. I don’t see this as a stepping stone to anything, I’m invested on this and get an opportunity to work with these lads.
“I’m not trying on the franchise world or anything, though I do the Northern Superchargers which got here round final 12 months and I get pleasure from working with (Superchargers captain) Harry Brook on that.
“I’ve been responsible of, within the TV world and in retirement, of all the time in search of the following factor, chasing issues. I’m truly actually completely happy, working with nice lads and nice workers round me. I believe ‘I’ve acquired a job to do right here’ and it’s not like ‘what’s subsequent?’.”
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