Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is about to be named the new coach of the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL). At 48 years old, this will be Flintoff’s first coaching role outside of England, having previously worked with the England Lions and the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
The Thunder recently ended their partnership with coach Trevor Bayliss after the 2025-26 BBL season, where they finished at the bottom of the standings. Bayliss, who led England to win the 2019 World Cup, once took the team to the runners-up position in 2025, but it did not improve from there.
Flintoff has prior experience in the BBL, having played for the Brisbane Heat during the 2014-15 season. This was also his final season as a professional cricketer. He participated in seven matches, scoring 74 runs and taking three wickets.
This new position with the Sydney Thunder marks Flintoff’s second coaching experience in Australia. He previously coached the England Lions during the Ashes series. He also served briefly as a mentor for the England Men’s white-ball team under Matthew Mott.
Flintoff’s coaching experience in franchise Cricket includes his time with the Northern Superchargers, where he coached for two seasons in 2024 and 2025, achieving fourth and third place finishes. He left after the Sunrisers Group took a majority stake in the team ahead of the 2026 season due to disagreements on contract terms.
One of Flintoff’s first tasks will involve deciding on the captaincy for the Thunder ahead of the 2026-27 season. Current captain David Warner faced drink-driving charges in April, raising doubts about his future in that role. Despite this, Warner has extended his contract with the team for another year, ensuring he will be with the Thunder for at least the upcoming BBL season.