London: Rocky Flintoff, the son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, has been called up for the first time to the Under-19 cricket team. One of the best all-rounders in cricket, Andrew is well-known for his valiant efforts during the 2005 Ashes. Before hanging up his boots in 2009, the Englishman spent almost 12 years playing for the national squad. Rocky has already secured his spot in England’s U-19 team for the next Sri Lanka series, continuing in his father’s footsteps. The three ODIs in the series against the Asian side are slated to take place later this month.
Rocky Flintoff, who is just 16 years old, has made an impression for the Lancashire 2nd XI this season. In April, the youthful player made his debut two days after turning nineteen. He scored his first century. At Edgbaston, Rocky scored three figures against Warwickshire when he and his older brother, Corey Flintoff, combined for 39 runs. Against a bowling attack that included former England Lions spinner Jake Lintott, he hit a century from 151 balls. Rocky Flintoff attended the Lancashire Academy from an early age, much like his brother. He has represented Southport and Birkdale in club cricket. Manchester Grammar School, the alma mater of former England stars Michael Atherton and John Crawley, is attended by both Rocky and Corey Flintoff. A 16-year-old star, he has now surpassed his sibling in preparation for his national team debut. There are several familial ties in England’s U-19 team. The son of former South African batter Dale Benkenstein, Luc Benkenstein, an all-rounder for Essex, will skipper them. While Somerset’s Thomas Rew is also the younger sibling of the highly regarded James Rew, the team’s offspinner Farhan Ahmed is the younger brother of England’s great Rehan Ahmed. Mike Yardy, the coach of the England Men’s Under-19 squad, seems to be happy with the team’s selection.
“With a mix of players who are currently participating in the Vitality Blast and some younger players who will be playing for the first time in an Under-19s squad, we have selected an exciting squad for the series,” Yardy said.
Regarding Andrew Flintoff, the former cricket star has resumed his career after being hurt in a high-speed collision during the production of a Top Gear episode in 2022. He is now employed by England as a consultant for the 2024 T20 World Cup. This summer, Andrew will also serve as the men’s Hundred coach for the Northern Superchargers.
