Brave Freddie Flintoff takes charge at England cricket training – as Top Gear Stig slams BBC over horror crash

BRAVE Freddie Flintoff has taken charge at England cricket training – after a former Top Gear Stig slammed the BBC over the star’s horror crash.

Freddie was snapped leading a nets session at Trent Bridge in Nottingham this morning.

PAFreddie Flintoff at Trent Bridge this morning[/caption]

PAThe star led a nets session at the ground[/caption]

PAFreddie wore England training kit[/caption]

Wearing an England-branded bucket hat, hoodie and sunglasses, he smiled as he watched the squad practise.

There were still signs on Freddie’s face of the horror injuries he suffered after narrowly surviving a 130mph Top Gear smash.

Flintoff, 45, suffered facial injuries and broken ribs in the 130mph crash in an open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3, but has since returned to public life.

Yesterday former F1 driver and Top Gear Stig Perry McCarthy slammed the BBC’s handling of the crash.

Speaking on GB News, he said: “There’ve been a number of adventures and accidents across the show’s history.

“Their health and safety procedures have come up.

“I know what I’m doing a little bit so I could take care of myself. I kind of find it pretty bizarre really.

“You know, first off we all wish Freddie well, and judging by the pictures you can only imagine he went through an awful lot of pain.

“So yeah, hats off to Freddie and his enthusiasm and his character and he’s one of the people that’s really made Top Gear come back to be in a great show.

“But temper enthusiasm, it’s got to be tempered sometimes.”

McCarthy added: “Freddie’s background is a sportsman, he’s highly competitive, but it is not driving.

“And sometimes I feel that maybe there’s a bit of a need to contain the enthusiasm to protect enthusiastic and talented drivers like Freddie or talented personalities like Freddie from themselves.

“So everything’s conjecture at the moment. And that’s what I’m critical of is why don’t we know exactly what has happened?”

The BBC has been contacted for comment.

It comes after insiders said it is the “perfect time” for Freddie to make a cricketing come back.

Former England teammate Steve Harmison said that Freddie is in “good form” following his recovery.

PAFreddie shared a joke with a teammate[/caption]

PAFreddie with his training gear[/caption]