Andrew Flintoff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Andrew Flintoff
Born	(1977-12-06) 6 December 1977 (age 47) Preston, Lancashire, England
Nickname	Freddie
Height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	All-rounder
Relations	Rocky Flintoff (son)
International information
National side	England (1998–2009)
Test debut (cap 591)	23 July 1998 v South Africa
Last Test	20 August 2009 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 154)	7 April 1999 v Pakistan
Last ODI	3 April 2009 v West Indies
ODI shirt no.	11
T20I debut (cap 2)	13 June 2005 v Australia
Last T20I	19 September 2007 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1995–2009, 2014	Lancashire (squad no. 26)
2009	Chennai Super Kings (squad no. 11)
2014/15	Brisbane Heat (squad no. 26)
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 79 141 7 183 Runs scored 3,845 3,394 76 9,027 Batting average 31.77 32.01 12.66 33.80 100s/50s 5/26 3/18 0/0 15/53 Top score 167 123 31 185 Balls bowled 14,951 5,624 150 22,799 Wickets 226 169 5 350 Bowling average 32.78 24.38 32.20 31.59 5 wickets in innings 3 2 0 4 10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0 Best bowling 5/58 5/19 2/23 5/24 Catches/stumpings 52/– 47/– 5/– 185/–
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  England Champions Trophy Runner-up 2004 England
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 23 April 2020
Andrew Flintoff Statistics Rated at Heavyweight Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Stance Orthodox Boxing record Total fights 1 Wins 1 Wins by KO 0 Losses 0

Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff (born 6 December 1977) is a famous English television presenter and former international cricketer. He was known as one of the best all-rounders in the sport. This means he was great at both fast bowling and batting. He also played as a slip fielder.

Freddie was a key player for the England team after he started playing in 1998. He was named "Man of the Series" during the exciting 2005 Ashes cricket series. He even became captain and vice-captain of the team. He stopped playing Test cricket in 2009 and retired from other forms of the game in 2010.

After cricket, Freddie tried professional boxing in 2012 and won his only fight. He also made a comeback to play Twenty20 cricket for Lancashire in 2014. Later, he joined the Brisbane Heat in Australia for the 2014–15 season.

Since retiring from cricket, Flintoff has been busy with many projects. He has his own fashion line and has appeared on popular TV shows. These include I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (which he won!) and A League of Their Own. In 2019, he became a presenter for the car show Top Gear. He continued with the show until late 2022, when he was injured during filming.

Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Andrew Flintoff was born in Preston, England. His father, Colin, was also a cricket player. Freddie went to Greenlands Community Primary School and Ribbleton Hall High School. When he was 14, he took his first trip abroad to Argentina.

He got the nickname "Freddie" because his last name sounded like the cartoon character Fred Flintstone. He finished school at 16 after passing nine GCSEs. As a boy, he played cricket for Lancashire Schools teams. He also played for the England under-19 cricket team for two and a half years.

Freddie's Cricket Career

Starting Out: Challenges and Comebacks

Flintoff led the England Under-19 team on tours to Pakistan and against Zimbabwe. He made his first Test match appearance for England in 1998 against South Africa. Early in his career, he sometimes struggled with his fitness and weight.

In 2000, he hit an amazing 135 runs not out in a match against Surrey. A famous cricket commentator, David Gower, called it "the most awesome innings". Despite some challenges, he worked hard to improve. A key moment was in 2001–02 during a tour to India. He bowled the final over in a one-day match, winning it for England. He celebrated by taking off his shirt, which became a famous moment.

Becoming a Star Player

By 2002, Flintoff started to show his true potential. He scored his first Test century against New Zealand. From 2003 to 2005, his batting and bowling improved a lot. In 2003, he scored a century and three half-centuries against South Africa. He also played well in the West Indies in 2004, taking five wickets and scoring another century.

In 2004, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. Even when injured and unable to bowl, he played as a specialist batsman. He scored two centuries in a row in a series against New Zealand and the West Indies. He hit seven sixes in one innings! Later that year, he hit a career-best 167 runs against the West Indies. His own father almost caught one of his sixes in the crowd!

At the end of 2004, he won the ICC Award for one-day player of the year. He also became a father for the first time.

The Amazing 2005 Ashes Series

Flintoff during practice session

The 2005 Ashes series against Australia was a huge moment for Flintoff. He had surgery on his ankle but recovered quickly. In the Second Test at Edgbaston, he broke a record by hitting nine sixes in the match. He also took seven wickets. England won this game by just two runs, and it was called "Fred's Test" because of his amazing performance.

He scored another century in England's win at Trent Bridge. In the final Test, he took five wickets, helping England secure a draw and win back the Ashes. This was a massive achievement for England cricket.

For his incredible efforts, he was named "Man of the Series". He also received the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC player of the year, sharing it with Jacques Kallis. In December 2005, he was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He was also awarded the Freedom of the City of Preston, his hometown.

Leading England

In February 2006, Flintoff became captain of the England team for a Test series in India. He led the team to a big win in Mumbai. His strong performances with both bat and ball earned him "player of the series". Many people thought he performed even better with the added responsibility.

However, injuries continued to be a challenge for him. A recurring ankle problem meant he missed several matches.

The 2006–07 Ashes Series

Flintoff captained England again for the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia. Unfortunately, this series was very tough for England. They lost all five matches, losing the Ashes after holding them for a short time.

Flintoff bowling against Australia in The Ashes series

Freddie's own performance was not as strong as in 2005. He struggled with a persistent ankle injury that affected his bowling. Despite the losses, he later helped England win the 2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series of one-day matches against Australia.

World Cup and Later Injuries

In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, Flintoff was vice-captain. During the tournament, he was involved in a well-known incident where he tried to get on a pedalo late at night. This led to him being fined and suspended from a match. He later apologized for his actions.

Injuries continued to affect his career. He had several operations on his ankle, which kept him out of many games. Despite these setbacks, he remained positive.

In 2008, he made a strong comeback against South Africa. He took his 200th Test wicket and was named "Man of the Series" in the one-day matches. Many thought he was back to his best.

In 2009, the Chennai Super Kings bought Flintoff for a large sum in the Indian Premier League. However, another knee injury meant he had to go home for surgery.

Flintoff driving through the covers at the SWALEC Stadium during the first Ashes Test of the 2009 series

The screen display at The Oval as Flintoff comes to the wicket for his penultimate Test innings

On 15 July 2009, Flintoff announced he would retire from Test cricket after the 2009 Ashes Series. He wanted to finish his Test career on a high note. He was named "man of the match" in England's victory at Lord's, taking five wickets. On 23 August 2009, England won the Ashes series 2–1. Flintoff famously ran out the Australian captain Ricky Ponting, ending his England career with a memorable moment.

He officially retired from all professional cricket on 16 September 2010.

Twenty20 Comeback

In May 2014, Flintoff surprised many by coming out of retirement to play Twenty20 cricket for Lancashire. He played in the final of the competition. After this, he joined the Brisbane Heat in Australia for the 2014–15 season.

In September 2024, it was announced that Flintoff would become the new head coach of the England Lions cricket team.

Records and Achievements

• Flintoff is one of England's top wicket-takers in one-day international cricket (168 wickets) and Test cricket (219 wickets).
• He holds third place for the most sixes scored for England in Test cricket, with 78.
• He is one of only eleven players to have their names on both the batting and bowling honours boards at Lord's.

Media Career and TV Shows

After cricket, Freddie Flintoff became a popular TV and radio personality.

• In March 2010, he became a team captain on the Sky One sports panel show A League of Their Own.
• He also hosted a radio show on BBC Radio Five Live.
• Flintoff became a brand ambassador for fashion brands and supermarkets.
• He produced a documentary called Freddie Flintoff: Hidden Side of Sport in 2012. In it, he talked openly about mental health challenges faced by sports stars.
• In 2015, he won the first Australian series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
• He co-hosted Australian Ninja Warrior starting in 2017.
• In 2018, he was announced as a new host of Top Gear alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. He was involved in a few crashes while filming, including one in December 2022 that led to injuries.
• In 2022, Flintoff presented Freddie's Field of Dreams on the BBC. This show followed him as he tried to create a cricket team for disadvantaged boys from Preston. A second series was released in 2024, showing the team on tour in India.
• In 2020, Flintoff presented a documentary on BBC One called Freddie Flintoff: Living With .... In this film, he discussed his own struggles with an eating disorder and talked with other men who had similar experiences.

Personal Life

Flintoff with his wife Rachael in 2016.

Freddie Flintoff married Rachael Wools in March 2005. They have four children, including Rocky, who is also a cricketer. Freddie has tattoos of his wife and children's names on his left shoulder. He supports Preston North End football club.

His father, Colin, and brother, Chris, both played cricket. Colin still plays for Whittingham Cricket Club.

In January 2006, Flintoff received the Honorary Freedom of Preston, his hometown. This is the highest award a Council can give to an individual. In 2011, he was also given an Honorary Fellowship by Myerscough College.

Autobiographies

Flintoff has written several books about his life and career:

• Being Freddie
• Freddie
• Andrew Flintoff, My Life in Pictures
• Ashes to Ashes
• Good Times, Bad Times
• Right, Said Fred

Awards and Honours

• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (ICC Cricketer of the Year): 2005
• Honorary Freedom of Preston: 2006
• Honorary Fellowship of Myerscough College: 2011
• England captain: 2006, 2006–2007
• Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World: 2005
• Wisden Cricketers of the Year: 2004
• PCA Player of the Year: 2004, 2005
• ICC ODI Player of the Year: 2004
• ICC World One-Day XI: 2004, 2005, 2006
• ICC World Test XI: 2005, 2006
• Cricket Writers' Club Young Cricketer of the Year: 1998
• Compton-Miller medal: 2005
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 2005
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year Third Place: 2004
• NBC Denis Compton Award: 1997
• Walter Lawrence Trophy: 1999
• MCC Spirit of Cricket Award: 2005

See also

In Spanish: Andrew Flintoff para niños