Freddie Flintoff described the last few months as the “hardest” of his life as he spoke publicly for the first time since his Top Gear crash.
The former cricket star was left severely injured from the crash after driving at 130mph in a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
The former England cricketer gave an emotional speech to England cricketers in a video posted online.
He gave the speech ahead of England’s ODI clash with Ireland last month, with the footage now being released by the ECB.
Presenting an England cap to spin bowler Tom Hartley, he said: “It gives me so much pleasure to share what’s going to be a day, Tom, that you’re going to remember for the rest of your life.
“Your journey hasn’t been like a lot of people’s. There were no academies, no systems but that suggests a steeliness, a determination, a passion which might not be evident on the outside but it’s definitely burning inside.
“When you get this cap it changes your life. It’s one of those things, it’s before and after it. This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also be a part of a family of people.
“They’ll share the good times with you, the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they’ll be there in the hardest times of your life, they will stand next to you.
“So like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute. It gives me great pleasure to present cap number 272 to Tom Hartley.”
The former England captain, 45, has kept a low profile since he was taken to hospital after being hurt while filming for the motoring show at its test track last year.
Last month, Flintoff was pictured in an England coaching kit on the home balcony at the opening one-day international against New Zealand in Cardiff with scars on his face and surgical tape on his nose.
His son Corey said at the time of the crash he was “lucky to be alive” and described it as a “pretty nasty crash”.
Flintoff began presenting Top Gear in 2019, and also appeared on Sky’s A League Of Their Own.
