While most 19-year-olds are still figuring out their next move, Eddie Jack is preparing to train with England’s Test squad—just weeks after making his first-class debut.
It’s a rapid rise that even he didn’t see coming.
Next Tuesday, Jack will be bowling in the nets at Headingley, joining Ben Stokes and the rest of the England team as they gear up for the first Test against India.
Not bad for someone who’s barely gotten started in professional cricket.
A Young Fast Bowler with Big Discipline
Jack isn’t your average up-and-coming cricketer.
He’s methodical, grounded, and, as he puts it, big on routine.
“I’ve got this checklist I follow, especially when I’m staying in different hotels,” he shared with Mail Sport.
“I try to get everything sorted before I even touch my phone.
Read the Bible, make the bed, shower… it’s all about starting the day right.
If I nail the start and the end, the rest just follows.”
It’s that same calm, focused energy that’s caught the attention of England’s cricketing setup—specifically, Andrew Flintoff.
Freddie Flintoff Sees Something Special
The turning point came just days ago. Jack had impressed during a match for a County XI against Zimbabwe, picking up five wickets.
After the game, Flintoff—now the influential England Lions coach—pulled him aside.
“He told me, ‘There’s something different about you,’” Jack recalled.
“Coming from someone like Fred, with his Ashes legacy and everything he’s done… that means a lot.”
Jack and Flintoff go back to 2023, when Flintoff started working with the England Under-19s after stepping away from TV following his terrifying Top Gear crash.
The two stayed in touch, and that mentorship paid off in a big way.
Joining England’s Test Setup… for Now
Jack knows he isn’t likely to make the playing XI just yet.
“I think this is more about learning, training with the guys, seeing the environment,” he said.
“To test myself against players like Joe Root and Harry Brook is going to be unreal.”
Still, with England’s recent history of picking bold, young fast bowlers—like Rehan Ahmed and Josh Hull—it wouldn’t be a total shock if Jack ends up wearing the Three Lions sooner than expected.
Especially with Josh Tongue currently nursing an ankle injury.
At 6’4”, Jack certainly fits the profile of a modern England quick—able to swing the ball at close to 90mph and willing to bang it in short when needed.
Faith Keeps Him Grounded
What really sets Jack apart, though, is what’s going on off the field.
He credits his Christian faith, and the values instilled by his family, for keeping him balanced.
“It’s a massive part of who I am,” he said. “It keeps me humble when things are going well, and gives me perspective when they’re not.
I work on Sundays, yes, but I make sure I spend time with God on other days. Everyone’s faith is personal.”
His dad is a school chaplain in Dorset, and that spiritual influence is clearly strong in Jack’s daily life and mindset.
Facing the Big Names with Confidence
Despite being so young, Jack has already faced some big-name players.
During two unofficial matches against India A, he managed to dismiss both KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal—huge confidence boosters.
But he doesn’t get caught up in the names. “It’s like, okay, Jaiswal’s at the other end.
I’ve got the ball. Let’s try and get him out,” Jack said.
“You’ve got to be present. That’s something Flintoff’s been big on—just being where your feet are.”
Borrowing Mental Tricks from Sporting Greats
That idea—staying grounded, literally—also comes from another sporting legend: Dan Carter, the former All Blacks fly-half.
“If he missed a kick, he’d dig his toes into the turf to reset.
I started doing the same,” Jack said. “A little kick at the top of my run-up helps me refocus.
It brings me back to the moment.”
It’s a small ritual, but one England fans might soon see a lot more of.
A Name You’ll Be Hearing More Often
Eddie Jack was born the day after the iconic 2005 Ashes series ended at The Oval—a series where Flintoff, now his mentor, took five wickets.
The full-circle moment isn’t lost on either of them.
With the right pace, the right attitude, and the right people backing him, Eddie Jack may be England’s next breakout star.