"He's probably even more excited than the players at the moment" - Matthew Short on Andrew Flintoff ahead of Northern Superchargers' campaignÂ
Newly appointed Northern Superchargers head coach Andrew Flintoff is raring to go in his maiden gig at the 2024 Hundred. The former England all-rounder has been touted to succeed in the endeavor and is already viewed as a potential candidate for the national team's white-ball coaching role despite his lack of experience.
Flintoff has held an unofficial role within the England national team setup in the past but has yet to serve as a coach for a team. The Northern Superchargers are looking to make a mark after a bleak run across the first three editions of the tournament so far. The franchise announced Harry Brook as their new captain, but he will be unavailable for the first couple of matches as he is involved with the England team in their ongoing Test series against the West Indies.
In Brook's absence, it will be Matthew Short leading the team. The Australian was recently involved in the 2024 Major League Cricket (MLC), but left the tournament midway, despite his team, the San Francisco Unicorns, competing in the playoffs.
"He's been great: he's probably even more excited than the players at the moment. He loves to be on this side of the fence here at Headingley. I'm sure everyone is going to get around Freddie and help him out. We love having him around," Short told ESPNcricinfo.
"From what I've heard, he's a bit of the modern-day coach now, especially in white-ball cricket. It feels like he's got a lot of fun and a lot of energy to bring. He's going to be nice and relaxed, and I'm sure it's going to be a really nice environment," Short added.
Apart from skipper Brook, the franchise will have to manage without the services of Reece Topley, Ben Stokes, Nicholas Pooran, and Mitchell Santner for the time being. Topley is currently nursing a finger injury while the others are involved in other cricketing commitments for their country or franchise.
Flintoff will kickstart his reign as coach with a home encounter against the Trent Rockets
Flintoff's first match as Northern Superchargers head coach will be a clash against Trent Rockets at Headingley, Leeds on Friday, July 26.
"The Superchargers showed some faith in me, retaining me for this year, and I thought, 'alright, I'll commit to these guys 100 percent. It's a bloody fun tournament," Short added
The 2024 Hundred began on Tuesday, July 23, and the likes of Oval Invincibles, Welsh Fire, and Southern Brave have secured early wins in the opening round of fixtures.