Former England all-rounder Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff has joined Brisbane Heat for this year’s Australian Big Bash T20 competition.
The 36-year-old Lancastrian returned from a five-year retirement to play for Lancashire this summer.
Despite only playing one group game, the former England test captain took the wicket of Ian Bell in the T20 Blast final and is looking forward to a spell in Australia.
“I’m excited to be coming back to Australia and Brisbane,” Flintoff said.
“Stuart [Law] and I have had a few conversations and I’m clear on what we’re looking to achieve in the competition.
“The Heat squad has some exciting talent and I’m looking forward to catching up with Dan Vettori again.”
Other big names to have signed for Big Bash teams include former England captains Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan, who will play for Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder respectively.
Flintoff will be coached by former Lancashire teammate Stuart Law in Brisbane and the Australian is looking forward to his friend’s arrival.
“I’ve told Fred we signed him to win games of cricket, so that means we want him bowling 140km/h [90mph], hitting sixes and using his experience around the group to get the job done,” Law said.
“He’s a wonderful person and we’re looking forward to having Fred and his family with us at the Heat over the summer.”
Flintoff experienced one of the lowest points of his career in Australia captaining England to a 5-0 Ashes defeat in the 2006/07 tour.
However, he will be hoping to bring home better memories from Brisbane and repeat the Heat’s Big Bash win in 2013.
Image courtesy of Jacamo, via YouTube, with thanks
