Andrew Flintoff has confirmed he is leaving his role as England Lions coach to take up a position with Sydney Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League later this year.
Flintoff's departure and new role
Flintoff, who began his role with the Lions in September 2024, leaves after less than two years. He joked that his replacement has 'big pants to fill'.
In an Instagram post, Flintoff said: "Unfortunately, I’ve made the decision to step away from my role with the Lions. Not only have I enjoyed my time having the opportunity to work with the best young cricketers in the country, but have taken great pride in seeing them develop."
Tributes from colleagues
He thanked the coaches and staff for their passion and support, singling out performance director Ed Barney and Rob for trusting him with the role. He added: "I can’t wait to get started with the Thunder later in the year and see where coaching takes me. Good luck to whoever takes over you have some big pants to fill."
Ed Barney, ECB men's performance director, praised Flintoff's impact: "Fred has helped to transform the Lions environment into a programme that has had a major impact on young players. By creating an environment that both supports and pushes excellence at all times he has helped bring forward a new generation of young players."
Barney added that coaches have flourished under Flintoff and wished him the best, looking forward to his return to English cricket.
