Andrew Flintoff to play for Brisbane Heat in upcoming KFC T20 Big Bash League

Former England all rounder to make return

Andrew Flintoff will play T20 for Lancashire (Getty Images)

Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is to play for the Brisbane Heat in the upcoming KFC T20 Big Bash League, the Australian team have announced.

Flintoff, 36, came out of retirement to make a return to action this summer with a handful of appearances in the shortest format for Lancashire, coming close to helping them snatch victory over Birmingham Bears in the T20 finals.

He will now continue his playing return in Australia, heading out in December to link up with former Lancashire team-mate Stuart Law who is the Brisbane coach, as well as fellow international signings Daniel Vettori of New Zealand and West Indian leg-spinner Samuel Badree.

"I'm excited to be coming back to Australia and especially to Brisbane which has always been a favourite spot of mine to play," Flintoff said on the Brisbane website.

"Stuart and I have had a few conversations and I'm clear on what we're looking to achieve in the competition. The Heat squad has some exciting talent and I'm looking forward to catching up with Dan Vettori again."

Flintoff agreed a deal to play for Queensland in the competition in 2010 but injury prevented him from taking up the opportunity.

"I've seen from afar how the BBL has evolved so quickly to become a world class competition and it's a challenge that I am certainly up for," Flintoff added.

"I really enjoyed my T20 season with Lancs and having the opportunity to keep playing is something I am very pleased about. It's going to be great heading out to Brisbane and getting into the swing of things for the BBL in December," he said.

Law added: "I've told Fred we signed him to win games of cricket, so that means we want him bowling 140km/hr, hitting sixes and using his experience around the group to get the job done.

"He's an enormous competitor and so I know he is coming out for the right reasons. The Brisbane fans will quickly discover he's a champion fella and I'm sure they will love having him with the team."

Flintoff will also undertake media work with Network Ten during the course of the competition.

PA