Andrew Flintoff surprised Stuart Broad with his ‘really good’ mitting during England session… as pundit insists legend would have ‘inspired’ England’s current crop of players

Stuart Broad insists Andrew Flintoff will have inspired England’s current crop of players after the cricket legend returned to the game.

The former international cricketer has been photographed on BBC Show Top Gear for the first time since his horrific crash in recent days.

Flintoff suffered broken ribs and facial injuries – which are still visible to this day – in the life-threatening accident that occurred on December 13.

He was seen in his new role with the England cricket team for the first time on Friday, and ahead of their ODI with New Zealand today, Broad praised the impact Flintoff will have on the current core of players.

He said: ‘I saw him in Cardiff and I had ten minutes with him. He was really in good shape.

Broad said Flintoff would have inspired current England players (jokingly seen with Chris Woakes and Mark Wood)

Broad was seen talking to Flintoff in Cardiff on Friday ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand

“He’s done some work with England Under-19s, which he really enjoyed, and he had just arrived in Cardiff to settle into this group for this series.

‘Freddie Flintoff is said to have inspired this side in ’05 and before, so he’s an icon of English cricket and a legend of the game, so just to be able to spend some time around him and pick his brain and the aura to feel what he has within the group.

“The opportunity for him, I know it’s a training shirt, but to put the Three Lions shirt back on is really special.”

Flintoff famously helped England come from behind to win the Ashes in 2005 – and was named ‘Man of the Series’.

Broad also noticed something that surprised him about Flintoff’s return to the game.

He said: ‘I actually saw him mitting against Mark Wood (a quick delivery with a baseball glove) and I can’t imagine he did very much mitting, but he was good, he was really good!

“I don’t know why I said that, surprisingly, because he’s a legend of English cricket, so he’s obviously got decent hand-eye coordination, but he was good. Certainly better than (fast bowling coach) David Saker whose job is to catch him.”

Flintoff got involved in the warm-up for the ODI against New Zealand.

He was in a jovial mood as he signed autographs for fans and shared a joke with the likes of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.

Before returning to work, Flintoff received encouragement from England general manager Rob Key and spent time with the England Under-19 team.

Broad (right) said Flintoff was in ‘great form’ when he spoke to him in Cardiff on Friday

Flintoff’s horror crash sports car was not equipped with airbags and emerged after impact

Flintoff was driving an open-top, three-wheeled Super 3 car for Top Gear last December when the vehicle overturned

One of the great all-rounders, Flintoff was an iconic symbol of the 2005 Ashes-winning side

It is uncertain whether Flintoff will resume his television career after the accident in which he was seriously injured and had to spend five weeks in hospital.

But it now seems certain he will instead explore coaching and mentoring opportunities in the game that made his name.

The father-of-four was ‘lucky to be alive’ when his open three-wheeled Morgan Super 3, which had no airbags, overturned. He had to wait 45 minutes before an air ambulance arrived.

Filming on Top Gear was suspended while Flintoff recovered from his injuries and an investigation took place, with reports that the former professional cricketer was putting his TV career on hold.

In the aftermath of the crash, Flintoff’s wife Rachael repeatedly begged him to stay off work.

This may well have influenced his decision to return to cricket instead of participating in dangerous stunts.

Flintoff has four children with Rachael: Holly, Corey, Rocky and Preston.

Flintoff is one of English football’s great all-rounders and was an iconic symbol of the famous 2005 Ashes-winning side.