England's captain, Ben Stokes, has shed light on the inclusion of former all-rounder Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff in the team's backroom staff for the ongoing Test series against India. Flintoff's presence is intended to provide a morale boost and create a positive environment within the team. Stokes believes that having former legends around the dressing room can significantly aid the players' preparation.

Flintoff, a magnetic figure from the memorable 2005 Ashes series, brings a wealth of experience and passion for the game. Stokes emphasized Flintoff's engaging personality and the impact he has on those around him. Stokes highlighted the value of Flintoff rediscovering his love for cricket and his current role in helping the next generation of English cricketers through his work with the Lions and U19 teams.

Flintoff's role involves working with the pacers during practice sessions, offering guidance on handling the conditions at Edgbaston, where the pitch is expected to favor batsmen initially before assisting the spinners later in the match. This collaborative approach, also seen with Moeen Ali's involvement, is something Stokes considers invaluable to his squad.

Stokes himself is feeling refreshed and ready for the second Test at Edgbaston after admitting the first Test match took a lot out of him. Despite guiding his team to a remarkable victory in the first Test, Stokes acknowledged the physical and mental toll of the five-day match. He emphasized the importance of resetting and refocusing on securing another win. Stokes also spoke about his own bowling performance in the first Test, where he bowled 35 overs and took four wickets, saying he was happy with maintaining his pace throughout the match.

The inclusion of experienced figures like Flintoff and Ali underscores England's strategic approach to leveraging their knowledge and inspiration. Stokes also mentioned the positive impact of Moeen Ali's presence on Shoaib Bashir, noting that Bashir was "buzzing" after spending time with the former off-spinner. Stokes reiterated that the team has been consistently trying to get England greats back into the environment.