Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is set to be announced as the new coach for Big Bash League (BBL) side Sydney Thunder. The 48-year-old is set to take his first coaching gig outside of England after stints with the England Lions and the Northern Superchargers (now Sunrisers Leeds) in The Hundred.
The Thunder parted ways with coach Trevor Bayliss at the end of the 2025-26 BBL season after five years in charge, following a disappointing season which saw them finish last in the points standings.
Bayliss, who guided England to the 2019 World Cup triumph, took the side to a runners-up spot in 2025, but that was as good as it got.
Flintoff does have experience of playing in the BBL. The all-rounder went on to represent the Brisbane Heat during the 2014-15 season, which also happened to be his last act as a professional cricketer before hanging up his boots. He played seven times that season, scoring 74 runs and taking three wickets.
The coaching role with the Sydney Thunder would be Flintoff’s second time he would be in charge of a team in Australia. He was the coach of the England Lions squad, which travelled Down Under during the Ashes period. The former all-rounder also had a brief stint with England Men’s white-ball side as a mentor under former coach Matthew Mott.
This will also be Flintoff’s second coaching role in franchise cricket following his time with the Northern Superchargers. He coached the Leeds-based side for two seasons, in 2024 and 2025, guiding them to fourth and third place finishes, respectively. However, he left the franchise for good after the Sunrisers Group secured a majority stake in the team ahead of the 2026 season, when the two parties could not agree on the terms.
One of Flintoff’s first crucial decisions would be regarding the Thunder’s captaincy ahead of the 2026-27 season. Their current skipper, David Warner, was charged with drink driving in April, raising questions surrounding his long-term future as the franchise’s captain. The left-handed batter extended his contract with the Sydney-based side for another year, keeping him at the club for at least the upcoming BBL season.
