Andrew Flintoff has spoken publicly for the primary time since being significantly injured in a crash whereas filming Top Gear.
The former cricket star described going by “the hardest” time of his life as he was filmed awarding an England cap to spin bowler Tom Hartley.
In the clip, launched by the England and Wales Cricket Board on social media on Wednesday, Flintoff instructed Hartley it was a day the participant would “remember for the rest of your life”.
In an emotional speech, Flintoff stated: “Your journey hasn’t been like a lot of people’s. There were 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 cover, this adjustments your life. It’s a type of issues – it is earlier than and after it.
“This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also (be) part of a family of people.
“They’ll share the nice instances with you, the successes. But as I discovered over the previous few months, they’re going to be there within the hardest instances of your life, they’ll stand subsequent 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.”
As the watching gamers and coaches applauded, Flintoff handed Hartley the cap and shook his hand.
The footage was filmed earlier than Hartley’s worldwide debut in a one-day worldwide (ODI) in opposition to Ireland at Trent Bridge in Nottingham final month.
Flintoff – broadly recognized by his nickname “Freddie” – suffered a severe crash final December whereas filming the BBC TV sequence Top Gear.
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The 45-year-old was left with a number of damaged ribs and extreme facial accidents and the BBC cancelled the remainder of the Top Gear sequence after the incident.
Flintoff made a uncommon public look in September, the place his facial accidents have been nonetheless seen 9 months after the crash.
In the summer time, he started serving to coach the England limited-overs squads in an unpaid consultancy position.
Source: information.sky.com”