Andrew Flintoff said Friday he had stepped down from his role as coach of the second-string England Lions after his appointment as head coach of the Sydney Thunder in Australia's T20 Big Bash League.

He previously agreed to become coach of the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, Australia’s T20 league, which is due to start on December 12.

Flintoff was set to miss part of the team’s winter tour of South Africa due to a Big Bash League coaching role.