Former England cricketing legend Andrew Flintoff has made headlines by selecting his 17-year-old son, Rocky, as a wildcard pick for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred draft.
A Coaching Comeback and a Family Pick
Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, a true icon of English cricket, currently serves as the head coach for the Northern Superchargers. His return to the sport in a coaching capacity follows a serious accident, and he has since been deeply involved in cricket development.
Freddie has worked with the England senior men’s squad and, more recently, the U-19 England Lions setup. It was through this junior program that he closely observed his son, Rocky, developing his skills over the past year. Now, in a unique father-son twist, Freddie has used his coaching position to bring Rocky into the professional Hundred competition.
Rocky’s Rising Star in Cricket
Despite his young age, Rocky Flintoff has already begun to make a name for himself in age-group cricket. He recently featured in the England Lions’ home series against India Under-19s, where he showcased his impressive talent.
Rocky scored a century in the fourth Youth ODI and followed that with significant scores of 93 and 11 in a Youth Test match. His selection as a wildcard pick for The Hundred means he will bypass playing T20s for his county, Lancashire, and jump straight into the big league. Wildcard picks can consider performances in competitions like the Vitality Blast, which Rocky hasn’t played in, making his direct inclusion a notable move.
Anderson’s Surprising Return to White-Ball Cricket
On the opposite end of the experience spectrum, 43-year-old cricketing legend Jimmy Anderson is set to make his debut in The Hundred. The veteran fast bowler, renowned for his illustrious Test match career, has been picked by his home team, the Manchester Originals.
This selection marks a surprising return to white-ball cricket for Anderson, who last played the format nearly a decade ago. His recent strong performance for Lancashire in the Vitality Blast, where he secured 14 wickets in just seven games, undoubtedly played a key role in his selection for the fast-paced 100-ball format.
Key Wildcard Picks for The Hundred 2025
The Hundred draft saw several teams strengthen their squads with a mix of promising young talent and seasoned players through their wildcard picks. These selections are designed to add dynamism and depth to the competition.
- Trent Rockets: Callum Parkinson, Ben Sanderson
- Birmingham Phoenix: Liam Patterson-White, Louis Kimber
- Welsh Fire: Ajeet Singh-Dale, Ben Kellaway
- Northern Superchargers: James Fuller, Rocky Flintoff
- Manchester Originals: Jimmy Anderson, Marchant de Lange
- London Spirit: Sean Dickson, Ryan Higgins
- Oval Invincibles: George Scrimshaw, Zafar Gohar
- Southern Brave: Toby Albert, Hilton Cartwright
The upcoming season of The Hundred promises an exciting blend of emerging talent and veteran prowess. All eyes will be on how these new additions, especially the unique father-son duo of the Flintoffs, will perform on this prominent cricketing stage.
