28 September 2023 , 05:00
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Steve Harmison has spoken of his delight at seeing former teammate and close friend Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff back involved in cricket after he was involved in a high-speed crash last year while filming Top Gear.
The England cricket legend had to be airlifted to hospital after suffering severe facial injuries and breaking his ribs in the crash, with Harmison revealing the incident and Flintoff's recovery has been a "huge ordeal". The 45-year-old was seen in public for the first time since the crash earlier this month after linking up with England's ODI team as a consultant ahead of the Cricket World Cup.
And Harmison says it was "great to see him back with a smile on his face", having taken time away from the public eye to recover. "When I saw some of the pictures, I was upset," Harmison told Online Cricket Betting.
"I saw him during his rehab and his son and my son played cricket together and Andrew was just starting to come out of the house and back into the world. We all knew the love and affection for him would be there, but it's easier said than done for someone in his position.
"For me, that was the hardest part - everybody said it would be great to see him in cricket again, but he didn't want to come out in public. The minute he did, we knew that he really wanted to.
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"It was about his own confidence, and it was great to see him back with a smile on his face. He's gone through a hell of a lot, he really has. It was a huge ordeal and nobody can understand what somebody goes through inside.
"Having suffered from mental health issues, I know that people who don't understand will try to give advice, and that can cause more harm than help. Andrew has probably had loads of people wishing him well and asking how he is, but sometimes that's harmful.
Fllintoff and close friend Steve Harmison (Ben Radford/Corbis via Getty Images)"Andrew needed his own time, he's taken it, and now he's back. It's brilliant to see. Some of the injuries he had were pretty horrific." England's players have spoken highly of his influence within the dressing room and Harmison believes managing director Rob Key, another close pal of Flintoff's, will be "trying to get him involved wherever he can".
"I think he loved being back and he said he was a bit overwhelmed with the love and affection he got from everybody," Harmison added. "Andrew really is a national treasure. I think he realises how much people all over the world, especially in this country, love him.
"He's received a lot of messages from overseas from those who were so glad to see him in public again. By all accounts, the England lads loved him - who wouldn't? Having spent the best part of 15 years in the dressing room with him, I know.
Flintoff is recovering from injuries sustained in a crash last year while filming Top Gear (PA Wire/PA Images)"The only reason he didn't go into coaching or commentating was because he was so good at other things. Things which made him a lot more money. You couldn't get him back into cricket! Now, if he decides to do that, I'd love to see it.
"It'd be great to have him in commentary as he's very funny, he also has a lot to give in the coaching side due to his knowledge of the game. He says he's a daft boy from Preston - but he's definitely not. His understanding of cricket is ridiculous.
"I think he'd be a very, very good coach - but the TV stuff always paid him more. It was great to see him back on the field, smiling, and sharing jokes with Joe Root and Ben Stokes.
Enggland's managing director Rob Key is also close friends with Flintoff (Clive Mason/Getty Images)"I think whilst Rob Key is at the helm, he'll be pushing Andrew to get involved in anything he possibly can do. Who wouldn't want Andrew Flintoff in the dressing room? I know he loves cricket and he always has.
"He's a larger-than-life character who might clown around sometimes, but his ability to switch on to a serious cricketer was always evident. When he was on the field, he stood up 9 times out of 10. Especially under pressure.
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"We'll have to see where he goes from a TV point of view. I think Andrew will need baby steps. I think Rob Key will be trying to get him involved wherever he can."