Freddie Flintoff’s facial scars show signs of healing as the cricket legend continues his work with the England team ahead of Ireland ODI series after his near-fatal Top Gear crash nine months ago

• Freddie Flintoff made a quiet return to English cricket earlier in the summer
• His facial scars form his Top Gear horror crash have clearly been healing well 
• Flintoff has been working as an unpaid mentor to the current white ball squad 

Freddie Flintoff’s facial scars from his high-speed crash last year appear to be healing well, judging from pictured from England’s latest net session. 

The former England Test captain has been spending time with the current squad over the summer ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup, which is set to take place in India from October.

First, though, England will take on Ireland in a series of three one-day clashes taking place at Headingley (September 20), Trent Bridge (September 23) and Bristol (September 26).

As such, Flintoff was in attendance at Headingley helping put the squad through their paces ahead of their final warm-up fixtures before the team flies off to India. 

His return to the sport has been hailed by a number of current squad members, who have been thrilled to have the talismanic former all-rounder in the camp as a mentor. 

Freddie Flintoff’s facial scars were showing signs of healing well at a net session at Headingley

The former all-rounder has been working as an unpaid mentor in the England cricket camp

Flintoff had remained away from the limelight as he continued his recovery over the last nine months

And clearly the joy goes both ways, with Flintoff refusing to be paid for his role with the side. 

READ MORE: Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff is seen for the first time since near-fatal Top Gear crash nine months ago – as he makes return to sport working with England cricket team

However, although he has been seen smiling non-stop since his return to the spotlight following his horror crash in 2022, the facial scars that he has been left with have been a stark reminder of what he went through. 

In December 2022, while filming for Top Gear, Flintoff, 45, suffered a horror crash that almost killed him and left him with severe facial injuries and several broken ribs.

The near-fatal crash on BBC’s Top Gear saw Flintoff’s three-wheeled open-top car, which did not have air bags, flip over, leaving him to wait an ‘agonising’ 45 minutes for an air ambulance – with the BBC later giving him an apology. 

The serious accident saw Flintoff quit Top Gear and several members of staff who witnessed it signed off sick indefinitely as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder. 

Despite the smiles, the scar that extends from the bridge of his nose to the right-hand side of his top lip, and the second beneath his lower lip are visible, but appear to be healing well. 

For a player that was never far from the action – be it his breath-taking spells with the ball to provide the breakthrough, star roles with the bat to get England out of trouble, or dramatic run-outs – his return came under a cloud of anonymity. 

Having spent time away from the limelight after becoming one of TV’s most recognisable faces, Flintoff first re-emerged at an England practice session before making appearances at ODI matches with New Zealand. 

He has been helping put the likes of England white ball star Sam Curran (left) through their paces

Flintoff, 45, has been smiling when greeting and working with members of the England team

The England great has been working with the team at the Oval, the scene of his final Test when he dramatically ran out Australian captain Ricky Ponting to help England to Ashes success

ECB managing director Rob Key is believed to be a key driving force in getting his close friend back into the game, with the former batter believed to have frequently turned to Flintoff for advice since leaving the commentary box at Sky.  

Key was the one to first invite the recovering star to attend three of the summer’s Ashes Tests away from the cameras, and was keen for him to work alongside England’s U19s. 

‘I would get texts from Keysie when I was at a game with just two words in them ‘Fred’s here’, said Mail Sport’s David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, a mentor and influence on Flintoff as his first coach at Lancashire and England Under 19s. ‘Then I would try to get to where he was for a chat.

‘The funny one was Manchester. Andrew was sitting there with Key in a room in the media centre at Old Trafford about 10 yards from the world’s press. They had no idea. He arrived with a hat and scarf on and didn’t want to be seen by anyone.’

The TV presenter suffered in a near-fatal crash while filming the BBC’s motoring show Top Gear in December that required four hours of surgery

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