Cricket Saved Me: Andrew Flintoff Opens Up in Emotional Disney+ Documentary

In a powerful new Disney+ documentary released on Friday, former England allrounder Andrew Flintoff opens up about the life-threatening car crash that changed his life — and the profound role cricket has played in his physical and emotional recovery.

The documentary, simply titled Flintoff, offers viewers never-before-seen footage of the injuries Flintoff sustained during the December 2022 crash while filming the BBC series Top Gear. The open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 he was driving overturned at Surrey's Dunsfold Aerodrome, leaving him with broken ribs, serious facial injuries, and lasting psychological scars.

In one of the film’s most haunting moments, Flintoff compares the split-second decision he made during the crash — to turn his head and fall face first rather than risk breaking his neck — to a batter’s instinctive reaction to a fast delivery.

“You get 0.4 seconds to make your mind up where the ball's going… As it started going over, I looked at the ground and I knew: if I get hit on the side, I’m going to break my neck. If I get hit on the temple, I’m dead. My best chance is go face down,” Flintoff recounts.

The injuries required extensive reconstructive surgery and left Flintoff with visible scarring. But the crash also left him emotionally shattered, leading to months of anxiety, nightmares, and near-total isolation, save for medical appointments. At his lowest, Flintoff says he struggled to see a way forward.

“Part of me thinks I should have been killed. Part of me thinks I wish I had died. I didn’t want to kill myself… but I thought that would have been easier,” he shares. “Now I try to take the attitude that the sun will come up tomorrow, and my kids will still give me a hug. I feel in a better place now.”

A Return to Cricket and Purpose

That journey back to stability, Flintoff says, has been underpinned by a familiar force: cricket.

His return to the sport has been gradual but deeply meaningful. Since October 2024, Flintoff has served as head coach of the England Lions, a role he says has helped him rediscover purpose and rebuild confidence.

“The one constant thread through my life is cricket. It's probably the one thing that saved me,” he says. “Now I’ve got the opportunity to coach. Who would have thought a 31-year-old me would be put in charge of the next-best England players? I absolutely love it.”

Flintoff is quick to credit the support of former teammates, especially Rob Key, now England men’s cricket director. After the accident, Key arranged for Flintoff to quietly attend Test matches, watching from private areas and reconnecting with close friends.

Key is now Flintoff’s boss in his role with the Lions, and the documentary captures an emotional moment where Key tears up discussing the role cricket has played in his friend's healing.

Coaching, Not Climbing

Despite his growing success as a coach, Flintoff has no immediate ambition to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s senior men’s head coach.

“I'm not looking for the next job… I’m coaching the Lions, and for me, that is the perfect place,” he says. “You’re not just coaching cricketers — you're helping them navigate life. I don’t see it as a stepping stone. I hope I am the perfect choice for them.”

Still a Presence on Screen

While cricket is now at the heart of his professional life, Flintoff isn’t stepping away from television entirely. The crash had halted filming of a second series of Field of Dreams, his heartfelt project teaching cricket to underprivileged youth in his hometown of Preston. That series has since been completed and aired. He’s also returned to lighter formats, including a special edition of the game show Bullseye, with more planned.

Through it all, the documentary paints a picture of a man who, despite unimaginable physical and emotional pain, has found his way back to hope — through family, friendship, and cricket.

Cricket Saved Me: Andrew Flintoff Opens Up in Emotional Disney+ Documentary

A Return to Cricket and Purpose

Coaching, Not Climbing

Still a Presence on Screen

You May Interested