Cricket

Andrew Flintoff, the former England all-rounder, is eagerly anticipating his debut as head coach of the Northern Superchargers in the Hundred. Flintoff's assistant coach, Kyle Hogg, who has known him for over two decades, believes that Flintoff will be "at his happiest" when the Superchargers face the Trent Rockets on Friday night.Hogg, who has worked closely with Flintoff in the past, described him as a natural leader who has always been supportive of his teammates. He believes that Flintoff's passion for cricket and his desire to succeed will make him a successful coach.Despite speculation linking Flintoff to the England head coach role, Hogg downplayed those rumors, stating that Flintoff is currently focused on his new role with the Superchargers. He emphasized that Flintoff is enjoying being back in a cricket environment and is eager to make a positive impact on the team.The Superchargers are facing a shortage of players, with several key players unavailable due to international commitments or injuries. However, Hogg believes that the team has enough depth to compete in the Hundred. He praised the commitment of Matthew Short, the Australian opener who has joined the team early from Major League Cricket.Short, who has played with Flintoff in the past, expressed his excitement about working with him. He described Flintoff as a modern-day coach who brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the team. Short believes that Flintoff's leadership will create a positive and enjoyable environment for the players.Hogg, who spent 14 seasons playing for Lancashire, admitted that it felt strange to be in the home dressing room at Headingley, the home ground of their rivals Yorkshire. However, he emphasized that the Superchargers are determined to make Headingley their fortress.Flintoff, who played for England and Lancashire, is known for his competitive spirit and his love for the game. Hogg believes that Flintoff will bring the same passion and intensity to his coaching role. He expects Flintoff to be fully invested in the team's success and to inspire the players to give their all.

Ben Stokes, England's Test captain, is set to make a highly anticipated return to the Hundred this summer, three years after his last appearance in the tournament. ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that Stokes has been made available by the ECB to play the second half of the group stage for Northern Superchargers, where he will be reunited with his former England teammate Andrew Flintoff, who is now the team's head coach.Stokes' return to the Hundred is a significant development, as he has not played in the competition since its inaugural season in 2021. Despite being named in England's squads, he has opted to rest between Test series to manage a chronic knee injury. However, he has now been cleared to play four group-stage games for the Superchargers, starting with an away fixture against Birmingham Phoenix on August 6.Stokes' previous appearance in the Hundred was marred by a severe panic attack, which he has since spoken about openly in his documentary "Phoenix from the Ashes." The incident prompted him to take a break from the game later that year.The Hundred's schedule this year coincides with the third Test against West Indies, which means that England's star players will be unavailable for the first week of the tournament. However, the batters will be released to play straight after the Test, while the allrounders and bowlers will be made available from August 6 onwards.In addition to Stokes, several other notable players have been confirmed for the Hundred. Tim Southee has replaced Naseem Shah at Phoenix, while Mitchell Santner will deputise for Daniel Sams at Superchargers. Riley Meredith and James Neesham have signed short-term deals as cover for Joe Root and Zak Crawley respectively.The ECB is expected to confirm a number of injury replacements on Thursday, with Will Smeed and Tash Farrant both set to miss the competition with hamstring injuries.

Harry Brook, the rising star of English cricket, has been entrusted with the captaincy of Northern Superchargers for the upcoming men's Hundred tournament. This appointment marks a significant milestone in Brook's career, as he is widely regarded as a potential successor to Jos Buttler as England's white-ball captain.Brook's previous captaincy experience includes leading the England Under-19 team in the 2018 World Cup in New Zealand. However, this is his first captaincy role at the professional level. The decision to appoint Brook as captain was made by incoming head coach Andrew Flintoff, who has been working closely with the England white-ball team in recent months."It's an honor to captain Northern Superchargers, and I'm really excited for it," Brook said. "It's always special to play at Headingley and to represent the area, and to do that as captain in the Hundred this year will be extra special."Brook's appointment as captain is a testament to his exceptional talent and leadership qualities. In his most recent appearance for Superchargers, he played one of the greatest innings in Hundred history, scoring an unbeaten 102 from 42 balls against Welsh Fire at Headingley. This performance helped him earn a place in the England squad for the 50-over World Cup.The Superchargers squad boasts a star-studded lineup, including England Test captain Ben Stokes, West Indies' Nicholas Pooran, and Brook's England teammates Adil Rashid and Reece Topley. The team was recently bolstered by the signing of former England opener Jason Roy, who replaces the suspended Brydon Carse."I really like the look of the squad we've formed, and I think there's a lot to be excited about," Brook said. "I can't wait to work with Freddie and the rest of the group and hopefully it'll be a year to remember."In the women's team, Hollie Armitage will continue as captain, alongside head coach Dani Hazell. The team finished as runners-up to Southern Brave in the 2023 campaign and will be looking to go one step further this year.

Archie Vaughan, the son of former England captain Michael Vaughan, is set to make his Under-19 Test debut against Sri Lanka next week. The 18-year-old top-order batter and offspinner has been named in a 14-man squad that includes several other familiar family connections.Rocky Flintoff, the son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, is also in the squad, as are Farhan Ahmed, the son of former Pakistan international Saqlain Mushtaq, and Jaydn Denly, the son of former England batsman Paul Denly.Vaughan has been part of Somerset's academy set-up since 2020 and signed his first professional contract with the county earlier this season. He has yet to make his Somerset first-team debut, but he made his mark at age-group level last week with an innings of 85 from 83 balls for a Young Lions Invitational XI in a warm-up match against the England U19 ODI squad.Flintoff Jr. top-scored for the England U19 ODI squad in that match with 106. Vaughan and Flintoff Sr. played alongside each other in 48 Tests between 1999 and 2008, and now their sons could begin their own partnership at age-group level in two Tests, at Wormsley on July 8-11, and Cheltenham on July 16-19.The team will be captained by Hamza Shaikh, who featured in two Youth Tests against Australia last year and is set to play against the touring West Indians in a Test warm-up at Beckenham this week. Shaikh has taken charge of Warwickshire's second XI on several occasions already this summer, during which time he has captained the likes of Chris Woakes, Liam Norwell, and Jake Lintott."They've helped me and given me more confidence in my leadership on and off the field, advising on bowling options and field placements," Shaikh told Warwickshire's website. "I like to think I'm a fairly calm guy and captaincy doesn't faze me. I'm looking forward to the challenge and hopefully coming away with a series win."The team will also feature several players who have already been in ODI action against Sri Lanka, including Kesh Fonseka, Noah Thain, and Freddie McCann, who made a matchwinning 174 from 139 balls at Hove on Monday.

Jason Roy, a pivotal member of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad, has secured a lifeline in the Hundred after being overlooked in the March draft. The Northern Superchargers, led by Andrew Flintoff, have signed Roy as a replacement player, offering him a chance to showcase his skills in the upcoming tournament.Roy's release from the Oval Invincibles, the defending Hundred champions, came after a disappointing season where he averaged a mere 17.11. Despite entering the draft with a £100,000 reserve price, none of the eight teams deemed his recent form worthy of a high salary.However, the Superchargers have recognized Roy's potential and have offered him a contract as a replacement for Brydon Carse, who is ineligible to play due to a recent betting ban. The details of Roy's contract remain undisclosed, as replacement players can negotiate salaries directly with teams within the overall salary cap.Roy's availability for the Superchargers' opening match is uncertain due to his commitments in Major League Cricket. He is scheduled to represent the Los Angeles Knight Riders, and the tournament's final coincides with the Superchargers' season opener.Flintoff, who is taking over as the Superchargers' coach this year, has been gradually involved in England's white-ball backroom staff. He is currently with the squad in Guyana ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final.Roy's signing marks a significant addition to the Superchargers' squad. Despite a quiet start to the English season, he remains a dangerous batsman capable of turning matches on its head. His experience and leadership will be invaluable to the team as they aim to challenge for the Hundred title.

Rocky Flintoff, the 16-year-old son of legendary England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, has taken a significant step in his cricketing journey by signing his first professional contract with Lancashire. The promising young batsman has impressed with his performances for the Lancashire 2nd XI this season, earning him a place in the England Under-19s squad.Flintoff's journey with Lancashire began at the age of 8, and he has since progressed through the club's academy system. His talent was evident in his four appearances for the 2nd XI this season, where he showcased his batting prowess with a half-century against Durham and a century against Warwickshire.The similarities between Rocky's batting technique and that of his father have drawn attention on social media, highlighting the potential he possesses. His signing with Lancashire is a testament to his hard work and dedication, and it marks a significant milestone in his cricketing career."I'm very happy and excited to have signed my first professional contract with Lancashire," said Rocky Flintoff. "It's something that I've been working towards since I started playing cricket, so to sign for my home county is a dream come true."Lancashire's director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, praised Rocky's performances and attitude. "He has impressed the coaching staff with his performances and determined attitude for the Second XI already this season," said Chilton. "He is a grounded individual and knows the work starts now for him to fulfil his potential in the years ahead."Rocky's father, Andrew Flintoff, made his Lancashire debut in 1995 and went on to become one of England's most iconic all-rounders. He played over 200 times across formats and played a pivotal role in England's Ashes victory in 2005. Rocky will now look to follow in his father's footsteps and establish himself as a top-class cricketer.

Rocky Flintoff, the son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, has made a remarkable start to his cricket career, scoring a maiden century for Lancashire's 2nd XI at the age of 16.Flintoff, who made his second-team debut earlier this month, reached three figures against Warwickshire at Edgbaston after a 39-run partnership with his older brother Corey. Batting at No. 5, Flintoff hit several early boundaries off Warwickshire's highly-rated seamer Che Simmons, including an inside-edge past his leg stump. He also hit a brace of leg-side sixes, the first reminiscent of his dad's pull shot and the second an effortless pick-up over midwicket.Flintoff put on exactly 100 in 14.3 overs with Saqib Mahmood, the England fast bowler, who is captaining Lancashire's 2nd XI as he continues his rehabilitation from a back stress fracture. He also spent 13 overs batting with his older Corey, 18, with the pair adding 39 for the seventh wicket.He reached his hundred when cutting Lintott through cover-point for a single, raising his left hand aloft in celebration as he ran through before raising his bat.Both Flintoff brothers have been in Lancashire's academy since a young age, and have played club cricket for Southport and Birkdale. They both attend Manchester Grammar School, the alma mater of former England players Michael Atherton and John Crawley as well as Lancashire's director of cricket Mark Chilton.Their father Andrew has returned to cricket in the last nine months, after suffering serious injuries in a high-speed crash while filming an episode of Top Gear in 2022. He will continue to work as a consultant with England at June's T20 World Cup after spending time with their white-ball and Lions teams, and will coach Northern Superchargers in the men's Hundred this summer.

Rocky Flintoff, the 16-year-old son of legendary England cricketer Andrew Flintoff, has made a promising start to his cricketing career by scoring a half-century in a Second XI Championship match for Lancashire.Batting at number three, Rocky scored 50 runs off 78 balls, including two fours and three sixes. His innings was reminiscent of his father's aggressive batting style, particularly his short arm pull and hook shots.Rocky's performance drew comparisons to Andrew's iconic pull shot against Brett Lee during the 2005 Ashes series, which England won. The younger Flintoff's sixes, including a classy pull shot, evoked memories of his father's dominance as a batting all-rounder.Rocky's elder brother, Corey, also played in the match and bowled four overs for Lancashire, conceding 19 runs. The match ended in a draw on Thursday due to rain.Andrew Flintoff, who represented England from 1998 to 2009, was a formidable all-rounder. In 79 Tests, he scored 3,845 runs at an average of 31.77, with five centuries and 36 fifties. He also took 226 wickets. In 141 ODIs, Flintoff scored 3,394 runs at an average of 32.01, with three centuries and 18 fifties. He also took 169 wickets in the format. In seven T20Is, he scored 76 runs and took five wickets.Rocky's half-century is a testament to his potential as a cricketer. With his father's legacy and his own talent, he has the potential to follow in his footsteps and become a successful international cricketer.

Rob Key, England's managing director, believes that Andrew Flintoff possesses exceptional leadership qualities and would be an ideal candidate for the England head coach position in the future. Key, a close friend of Flintoff, played a pivotal role in his return to the public eye after a serious accident in 2022.Flintoff's involvement with the England team has gradually increased since his initial unpaid role during the New Zealand series last year. He has since mentored the England Lions and is now part of the back-room staff for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.Key believes that Flintoff's personal experiences, both on and off the field, have equipped him with the emotional intelligence and empathy that are essential for effective leadership. He compares Flintoff to Ben Stokes, another former England captain known for his ability to connect with players and inspire them."Flintoff is a leader like Stokes," Key said. "He knows what it's like to struggle and come out the other end. He can relate to players and understand their challenges. He has high emotional intelligence and knows when to offer support or provide blunt honesty."Flintoff's role with England will extend into the ODI series against Pakistan before the T20 World Cup. Key sees this as a valuable opportunity for Flintoff to gain further experience in team management and squad assembly. He hopes that other former players, such as Moeen Ali and Eoin Morgan, can also be integrated into the coaching setup in the future."Flintoff is on a brilliant journey in his coaching development," Key said. "He's gaining practical experience in various roles, which is more valuable than theoretical knowledge. We want to create opportunities for former players with these skills to learn and contribute to the team."