A final over blitz by England all-rounder Liam Livingstone helped him tie with legendary English icon Andrew Flintoff for most sixes during an innings at Lord’s in ODIs. Livingstone achieved this record during the fourth ODI against Australia at Lord’s on Friday. He scored a commendable 62* in just 27 balls. His knock included three fours and seven sixes. His runs came at a strike rate of 229.63. His knock also included the brutality unleashed on Australia’s premier pacer Mitchell Starc, whose final over, the 39th and final over of the rain-hit game, was hit for four sixes and a four, giving away a total of 28 runs.

Now, the all-rounder has tied with Flintoff, who also hit seven sixes to go along with eight fours during his knock of 123 in 129 balls against West Indies in 2004.

12 sixes by England during their innings are the most by a side during an ODI at Lord’s.

312 scored by England is their highest score against Australia at Lord’s.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to field first.

England started off with a fine 48-run opening stand between Phil Salt (22 in 27 balls, with three fours) and Ben Duckett. After a brief stumble, skipper Harry Brook recorded a 79-run partnership with Duckett (63 in 62 balls, with six fours and a six) and a 75-run partnership with Jamie Smith (39 in 28 balls, with a four and two sixes). Brook missed out on a well-deserved second-successive ODI ton, scoring 87 in 58 balls, with 11 fours and a six.

Liam Livingstone (62* in 27 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) provided some brilliant finishing touches, smashing Mitchell Starc for 28 runs as England scored 312/5 in their 39 overs.

Adam Zampa (2/66) was the pick of the bowlers. Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood got a wicket each.

In the run-chase, openers Travis Head (34 in 23 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and skipper Marsh (28 in 34 balls, with two fours and a six) provided a fine start with a 68-run stand. However, after their partnership was broken, it was all downhill for Australia, who was skittled out for 126 in 24.4 overs, thanks to brilliant spells from Matthew Potts (4/38) and Brydon Carse (3/36). England levelled the five-match series 2-2 with a 186-run win.

Brook secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh revealed what England’s Andrew Flintoff had said to him during their verbal spat in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The inaugural edition of the tournament is remembered for many things. From Misbah Ul Haq’s cheeky shot in the final over against India and Yuvraj smoking the ball into the stands for six sixes off Stuart Broad in an over after his animated verbal chat with Flintoff. Yuvraj recalled the moment when Flintoff provoked him after he had smacked a couple of boundaries in his over.

“Freddie bowled two good balls, he bowled a length ball, which went for a boundary, and a good yorker, which I was hit over the point. When I was walking after taking a single, he said, “F… shit shots,” Yuvraj said in the Club Prairie Fire podcast.

Flintoff didn’t hold back and continued to provoke Yuvraj, which led to an altercation between the two, forcing the umpire to step in.

“He repeated that on my face. I walked towards him; he kind of spat on me. I showed him my bat, saying that you know where it’s going to go. It went worse after that. Then the umpire came in,” Yuvraj added.

Look out in the crowd!

On this day in 2007, @YUVSTRONG12 made #T20WorldCup history, belting six sixes in an over pic.twitter.com/Bgo9FxFBq6

— ICC (@ICC) September 19, 2021

Despite hitting six consecutive sixes off young Broad, Yuvraj was delighted when “I hit Freddie for a six, I enjoyed it more (than six sixes).”

Yuvraj’s presence in the tournament often turned out to be a deciding factor for India throughout their triumphant campaign. Recently, his former compatriot Sreesanth claimed that without the swashbuckling all-rounder, India wouldn’t have lifted the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

“It was the senior and junior combination. Dhoni was captain, but without Yuvraj, I don’t think we would have won the World Cup. We didn’t win the World Cup just because of Dhoni. His captaincy was good. The entire management was with us. We won the World Cup because of everyone, not just a single person,” Sreesanth told ANI.

In a nerve-wracking thriller, a collective effort from the players got India across the line, crowning them as the first team to clinch the title against their arch-rival Pakistan.

Andrew Flintoff appointed head coach of the England Lions. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Cricket great Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was appointed head coach of the England Lions on Saturday (September 7, 2024). The former England captain has been a successful television personality since ending his storied playing career, but his appointment is his latest step into coaching.

“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role with the England Lions. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the best up-and-coming talent in the country and to help shape the future of the men’s game,” Flintoff said.

Flintoff has signed up for the winter tours of South Africa and Australia as well as summer fixtures against India A and Zimbabwe. Since returning to cricket over the past year, the 46-year-old has been an assistant coach at this summer’s T20 World Cup.

He led the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. He is currently standing in for batting coach Marcus Trescothick for England for this week’s test against Sri Lanka.

Flintoff, who was an all-rounder, played 79 Tests for England and was the 2005 Ashes player of the series.

In December 2022, Flintoff sustained facial injuries from an accident that occurred during filming for “Top Gear” at the show’s test track in Surrey.

The England and Wales Cricket Board said Flintoff was the “standout candidate from a pool of high-caliber applicants.”

“Andrew stood out thanks to his inspirational leadership, coaching expertise, and deep understanding of the game,” said Ed Barney, the ECB men’s performance director.

Flintoff begins his role in October and will take charge for the upcoming year. The Lions program helps to develop the next generation of cricket talent.

“With Andrew’s guidance, the highest potential players will continue to develop, thrive, and take their game to new levels,” Barney said. “I’m confident his influence will resonate across English cricket, helping drive the game forward.”

Since retiring from the sport — initially in 2010 and then in 2014 — Flintoff has featured in popular TV shows like “Top Gear” and “A League of Their Own.” He also had a short-lived attempt at boxing.

Andrew Flintoff revealed that he is struggling to ask for help.© X (Twitter)

Fifteen years after England duo of Michael Vaughan and Andrew Flintoff ended their Test careers, their sons are likely to begin their journey in the traditional format at the age-group level in two Tests against Sri Lanka. Archie Vaughan, son of the former Ashes-winning England captain, was on Tuesday named in a 14-member squad that also includes 16-year-old Rocky Flintoff, who has already made his international debut in youth ODIs. Family connection runs deep in the squad that also features Farhan Ahmed, brother of current England leg-spinner Rehan and Jaydn Denly, the 17-year-old nephew of ex-England batter Joe Denly.

“They’ve helped me and given me more confidence in my leadership on and off the field, advising on bowling options and field placements,” skipper Hamza Shaikh told Warwickshire’s website.

“I like to think I’m a fairly calm guy and captaincy doesn’t faze me. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully coming away with a series win.” A top-order batter and off-spinner, Archie, 18, represented Somerset in his first professional contract earlier this season. He had been been part of the county’s academy set-up at Taunton since 2020.

He is however yet to play for Somerset first-team. But at age-group level last week, he caught the attention with a 83-ball 85 for Young Lions Invitational XI in a warm-up match against the England U19 ODI squad, for whom Rocky, a right-handed allrounder, top-scored with 106.

Vaughan and Flintoff Sr had played 48 Tests together between 1999 and 2008.

England U19 side will take on Sri Lanka U19 in two Tests, at Wormsley from July 8-11, and Cheltenham from July 16-19.

England U19 Squad: Hamza Shaikh (c), Farhan Ahmed, Charlie Brand, Jack Carney, Jaydn Denly, Rocky Flintoff, Kesh Fonseka, Alex French, Alex Green, Eddie Jack, Freddie McCann, Harry Moore, Noah Thain and Archie Vaughan.