Freddie Flintoff breaks silence in first public speech since Top Gear crash

04 October 2023 , 11:21

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Freddie Flintoff presented Tom Hartley with his England cap (Image: @englandcricket)

Freddie Flintoff has opened up about the horror car crash while filming Top Gear during an emotional speech to the England camp.

England shared a clip of the cricket legend presenting Tom Hartley with his cap after the spinner made his international debut against Ireland last month.

Flintoff worked with England's white-ball teams ahead of the World Cup, with the legendary all-rounder making his first public appearance in nine months after he was involved in a horrific accident while filming. Against Ireland, four new players made their debuts and a number of former greats were on hand to present them with their caps and make short speeches.

Marcus Trescothick, Dominic Cork and Mark Butcher gave Sam Hain, George Scrimshaw and Jamie Smith their respective caps, while Flintoff did Hartley's presentation as the 24-year-old plays for Flintoff's former county Lancashire.

In an emotional speech, Flintoff touched on the accident and the injuries he suffered, telling Hartley that his England teammates were there for him in what he described as one of 'the hardest times of your life'. He said: "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.

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"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." The two then shook hands before sharing an embrace.

England coach Matthew Mott has said Flintoff will "definitely" be involved in the coaching setup again, while his close friend and former teammate Steve Harmison told the 45-year-old had been left "overwhelmed by the outpouring of love" he had received.

"It's great to see him back," Harmison said. "He loved every minute of it. He was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love with everybody seeing him for the first time since that horrific accident."

Matthew Cooper