MELBOURNE: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff joined Brisbane Heat on a short-term deal in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Thursday, extending his surprise return to Twenty20 cricket.

Forced into retirement by a knee injury in 2009 after 79 Tests and 141 One-day Internationals, the 36-year-old made a shock return for Lancashire in the Twenty20 Blast earlier this year.

Flintoff, whose 2009 plans to play for Queensland were marred by injury, will arrive in December to reunite with his ex-Lancashire team-mate, now Brisbane coach, Stuart Law.

“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, who will play the back half of the BBL session, said in a statement from the BBL side.

“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 [New Zealand spinner] Dan Vettori again,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014