Freddie Flintoff has courageously shared the psychological impact of his near-fatal Top Gear crash, revealing that he didn't step out of his house for eight months following the ordeal. The ex-England cricket skipper sustained severe facial injuries and broken ribs during the high-speed crash at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in December 2022. He recently recorded a segment for an ITV talk show, discussing for the first time on television the emotional aftermath of the accident and his gradual journey to recovery, reports the Mirror . On ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show, Flintoff confided in host Jonathan Ross : "No secret that I had a car accident filming Top Gear. Afterwards, obviously there's the physical scars that I've got. But then the mental side of it. I didn't leave the house for probably six or eight months. The only times I was leaving the house was for medical appointments and surgeries." The cricket icon, who has made a comeback to the sport as a coach, confessed that he faced significant challenges with anxiety and seclusion for several months post-accident. He continued: "I had to have about five or six goes at leaving the room. Had to have a chat with myself in the mirror. I think because I'd not done anything for such a long time. I'd not shown myself without a face mask to anyone. It was like starting again." Flintoff has revealed that it was the encouragement from his long-time pal Rob Key, who is now the managing director of England men's cricket, that coaxed him back into the sport. He shared: "A mate of mine, Rob Key... started inviting me to come and watch the cricket, test matches, but sit in a back room not in the crowd. I was wearing a full face mask for months. I started getting back into it and started to find my feet a little bit. Ever since I can remember, from being a kid, cricket was a massive part of my life." Now at the helm as head coach for the England Lions, Flintoff has rediscovered his comfort zone in the dressing room, finding it to be the one place where he's able to truly be himself. The 47 year old stated: "That time when I probably needed it most, cricket embraced me again. "Cricket is the one place, I'm there in the dressing room, I'm coaching these lads, forget everything that's going on and be present." Despite making a return to television work, which he humorously admits is just to cover his expenses, coaching has captured his clear devotion. Flintoff affirmed: "The TV was good. But I feel like I'm back home being involved in cricket... Cricket now, back in coaching, is my definite future. I'm loving it." Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. The filming of Flintoff, a new Disney+ documentary about his life and recovery, has also been instrumental in his healing journey. "At first it was quite strange," he admitted. "It's something you live with. Since the accident, had the flashbacks, the nightmares and things... The hardest part is seeing people talk about you. I'm more accepting of it now - it is what it is and move on."