Freddie Flintoff’s facial injuries from last year’s horrifying car crash appear to be on the mend after the England cricket hero was pictured presenting Adil Rashid with his 100th T20 international cap.
It was a year to the day when Flintoff was involved in a near-fatal incident while filming for Top Gear.
The crash left Flintoff with severe facial injuries as well as broken ribs after scraping his face across the tarmac after flipping the car.
Some Top Gear staff were said to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of Flintoff’s injuries.
Freddie Flintoff’s face was scraped across the tarmac
GETTY
The England cricket icon then kept a low profile away from the spotlight for several months before making his first public appearance in September when he began an unofficial mentor role with the national team.
His first public appearance showcased the severe nature of Flintoff’s facial injuries as he still sported scars on his nose, mouth and chin.
But Flintoff has been making a gradual return to cricket in recent months and it was announced in November that he will take up a coaching role with the Northern Superchargers for next year’s Hundred competition.
He’s continued his mentorship role with England in the meantime and was out on the field to mark Rashid’s landmark achievement prior to their four-wicket loss to the West Indies.
And Flintoff was pictured smiling alongside Rashid with his facial scars showing signs of healing.
The 46-year-old also paid tribute to Rashid for reaching 100 T20 caps for England.
“I remember you coming into the side as this young lad, full of mystery, full of wonder, full of mischief and loads and loads of ability,” Flintoff said in a video released by www.ecb.co.uk.
“Over the years, everyone in this group: myself and anybody who’s played with you has been so proud at how you’ve gone about your business – a multiple World Cup winner, the best in the business at what you do around the world but more importantly, Rash, you as a person.
“You’re such an integral part of this squad and the other thing is you give back, whether it’s in Bradford with your academies (or) the other day I saw you spending all this time with a leg-spinner, a young kid, and just coaching him.
“To me that is just as important as everything else you do.
“To me, you epitomise everything that England cricket is about.
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Freddie Flintoff made his first public appearance in September
PA
“It’s a privilege for me to tour with you, it’s a privilege for me to give you this cap.
“So Rash, come and get this cap, (it is) 100 but you’ve not stopped yet, there’s plenty more in you. Well done, son.”
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.