Liam Livingstone hails ‘national hero’ Andrew Flintoff as former England talisman returns to the dressing room as a mentor after 130mph Top Gear crash nine months ago to offer his advice in ongoing New Zealand series

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff returned to the England dressing room this week for the first time since the serious accident he was involved in while filming Top Gear.

The former cricketer retired back in 2014 and now finds himself back in the dressing room for England. 

He has returned as part of a mentoring role to the current England team as an ECB source told Mail Sport they will be taking things slowly but it does appear Flintoff is back for good.

Speaking after the former all-rounder’s return, England star Liam Livingstone has discussed the importance of having the ‘national hero’ back.

‘It’s incredible to have someone of his experience with us,’ said England’s Livingstone after New Zealand somewhat spoiled the reunion party with an eight-wicket win in the first ODI. 

The cricket legend was pictured taking part in a session with the England team in a mentoring role

Liam Livingstone has discussed the importance of having the ‘national hero’ back

‘He was obviously one of my heroes growing up.

‘Thankfully I’ve been around Fred a little bit at Lancashire and he’s back at Old Trafford a bit more again now with his boys coming through at the club.

‘It’s been great for the lads to have him here now. We’ve all been talking to him, especially when we were batting. You’ve got three and a half hours to pick the brains of someone who’s been there and done it.

‘He’s a national hero so everybody loves that Fred’s going to be with us for the whole of this series and I’m sure he will enjoy himself as well.’

The cricketer continued to discuss how he and his teammates will learn off the legend as he returns in a mentoring role within the ECB. 

‘The main thing is that we get to learn off him and I’m sure it will be great for him too. Everybody loves it when they come into this England team environment and I’m sure he’ll be no different. Over the next week there will be plenty of laughs inside there.’

And the whole cricket community and the wider public will be delighted that Flintoff will be laughing again after what he has been through.