Footage emerges of Freddie Flintoff speaking for the first time since his high-speed Top Gear horror crash last year in emotional speech presenting England debutant Tom Hartley with his first ODI cap

• Freddie Flintoff has been an unpaid consultant with England’s white ball side 
• He told Tom Hartley of the life changing implications of receiving his first cap 
• Coach Matthew Mott hinted that there could be a return for Flintoff in the future 

Freddie Flintoff’s emotional speech ahead of England’s ODI clash with Ireland last month has been released by the ECB on social media. 

Flintoff has been recovering from a high-speed crash while filming for Top Gear in December 2022, and has been spending time with the England white-ball side this summer. 

An appearance as England took on New Zealand was his first in public since suffering the shock crash, but his face has been ever-present since then for the white-ball side’s international clashes with the Black Caps and Ireland. 

The 2005 Ashes hero in fact presented debutant Tom Hartley with his first ODI cap against Ireland and gave an impassioned speech about how the first cap can change a cricketer’s life. 

Poignantly, Flintoff spoke of how his former England team-mates stood by him in his most recent difficult times, in particular ECB chief Rob Key, noting how the cap will represent being welcomed into a new family. 

Freddie Flintoff (right) handed Tom Hartley his ODI cap against Ireland in September

The 2005 Ashes hero spoke of the life-changing impact of receiving a first England cap

Hartley took no wickets but went for a team-low 4.8 runs an over, contributing 12 with the bat

‘It gives me so much pleasure to share what’s going to be a day, Tom, that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life. 

‘Your journey hasn’t been like a lot of people’s. There was no academies, no systems but to me (that) suggests a steeliness, a determination, a passion which might not be evident on the outside but it’s definitely burning inside.

‘When you get this cap it changes your life. It’s one of those things, it’s before and after it. This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also a part of a family of people.

‘They’ll share the good times with you, the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they’ll be there in the hardest times of your life, they will stand next to you.

‘So like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute. It gives me great pleasure to present cap number 272 to Tom Hartley.’

Hartley was not the only debutant for the game, with Sam Hain, Jamie Smith and George Scrimshaw all receiving caps from Marcus Trescothick, Mark Butcher and Dominic Cork respectively. 

The Lancashire spinner took no wickets but went for 48 runs from his 10 overs, the most economical of England’s young bowling attack on the day, finishing on 12 not out with bat in hand. 

Flintoff’s appearance with the squad this summer has been a popular one with players, with white-ball coach Matthew Mott hinting at a return in future.

Flintoff has been spending time around the England set up as he continues to recover from his shock crash last year  

England white ball coach Matthew Mott is keen to recruit Flintoff after his work this summer  

England’s white ball coach Matthew Mott was impressed with Flintoff during his unpaid consultancy role during the two recent series against New Zealand and Ireland, and confirmed that he could be part of the coaching set-up once again in the future. 

Asked in September if Flintoff would be part series against West Indies in December, Mott said: ‘Not sure. He’s definitely going to join us again in future though; we’ve loved having him around.’ 

The former all star all-rounder suffered a serious crash in December 2022 while filming for BBC’s Top Gear. He was left with several broken ribs and severe facial injuries that have left scars on his face, but are seemingly healing well. 

Following the incident Flintoff had to wait 45 minutes for an air ambulance, with the BBC later apologising to him.

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