Rob Key hints Freddie Flintoff could have a longer role with England and predicts he will be a 'brilliant coach' after returning to the fold following his near-fatal Top Gear crash

ECB managing director Rob Key believes Freddie Flintoff has the ability to one day become a top coach after the former all-rounder returned to work with England's white ball side last summer. The 2005 Ashes hero made a gradual return to public life following his near-fatal Top Gear crash back in 2022, with the 46-year-old returning to work as an unpaid coach for the England one-day side. ECB cricket director Rob Key has claimed that Freddie Flintoff will one day bcome a 'brilliant coach' Key played a pivotal role in helping Flintoff return to the England set up, with the executive inviting the former all-rounder to watch last summer's Ashes Series as an incognito guest Key also compared Flintoff to current England Test captain, Ben Stokes, stating that both players have plenty of empathy following the hardships they've overcome in their careers 'And since then he's now back to his old self a little bit, which is great to see. ‘He was my idol – so as soon as I found out he was coming on this trip it was like a pinch myself sort of thing.’ Flintoff is now set to take on his biggest coaching role yet, as he was named the head coach of the Northern Superchargers for this year's Hundred As a player, Flintoff made 79 Test appearances for England, notably being the hero of England's 2005 Ashes Series victory, where he was named 'Man of the Series' The 46-year-old joined up with England's white ball side in the summer in a coaching capacity during their limited overs series against New Zealand Key also opened up on how 'cricket was the thing that helped Flintoff' following his life-threatening Top Gear accident Key meanwhile, played a big part in helping Flintoff return to cricket, after his crash that saw him suffer a fractured rib and several facial injuries, and opened up on the accident and his recovery.