Andrew Flintoff set to don his whites once more this summer after appearing for St Annes alongside son Corey

The Preston-born England great came out of retirement to play alongside son Corey in St Annes’ Northern Premier League season-opener at Morecambe on Saturday.

It was Corey’s league debut for the senior side at the age of 15 – only slightly older than his dad was on making his first-XI bow for St Annes almost three decades ago.

The former Ribbleton Hall High School pupil last played for St Annes in 2014 but answered the call of his old club to help them out and give Corey some moral support on his big day.

St Annes director of cricket, Richard Dearden, said: “We were short of players and our captain Tom Higson suggested that I gave Andrew a call, given that Corey would be playing.

“His response was, ‘I’ll put my whites in the car’. Then on the Friday he said he wasn’t bothered but would play if we were short.

“Anyway, he turned up and played. It was a bit strange because Morecambe Cricket Club is also a Covid vaccination centre, so we had doctors and nurses coming out to have photos with Andrew.

“He was out for three and said at the end that he needed a net but would play again.”

That is despite ending the game out of pocket as the team operates a system of fines for mistakes in the field and even former England superstars have to cough up!

However, everyone was grateful for Flintoff’s participation and Dearden added: “It was also a help for Corey, who bowled well but didn’t have a lot of luck.”

Flintoff junior took his first NPCL wicket, dismissing a Morecambe opener, but will only be available for St Annes when his playing commitments at Manchester Grammar School allow.

Dearden admits St Annes are still striving to recruit a professional as they look forward to this weekend’s opening home game against Lancaster.

This weekend's fixtures:

NORTHERN LEAGUE: Chorley v Morecambe, Fulwood and Broughton v Kendal, Garstang v Blackpool, Longridge v Leyland, Netherfield v Fleetwood, St Annes v Lancaster

PALACE SHIELD: Kirkham and Wesham v Great Eccleston, Penrith v Eccleston, Preston v Penwortham, South Shore v Barrow, Thornton Cleveleys v Croston, Vernon Carus v Fylde.