Andrew Flintoff has announced his departure as head coach of the England Lions, a position he held since September 2024. This decision comes ahead of his new role as head coach of the Sydney Thunder in the Australian Big Bash League, which was announced in June.
Flintoff expressed his gratitude to the coaches and staff, particularly Ed Barney and Rob Key, for their support during his tenure. He also thanked them for the opportunity to work with the best young cricketers in the country and took pride in their development. Ed Barney, ECB men's performance director, praised Flintoff for transforming the Lions environment and helping to bring forward a new generation of players.
Flintoff is set to start his new role with the Thunder later this year. In the meantime, Mike Yardy will take over as head coach for the upcoming four-day match against Pakistan Men.