Freddie Flintoff is all smiles as he is seen training in England, while Jofra Archer joins the training session after a lengthy break in a major boost ahead of the World Cup

Freddie Flintoff was beaming as he took part in a training session for England ahead of their third one-day international against New Zealand.

Flintoff, 45, was spotted last week for the first time since his life-threatening accident while working on Top Gear last December.

The former all-rounder, who is back with the England team, was pictured smiling as he chatted to Jonny Bairstow at The Oval.

England also received a boost ahead of the World Cup when Jofra Archer took part in the training session.

Archer, who was ruled out for the entire summer in May due to a recurrence of a stress fracture in his right elbow, could still travel to the World Cup as one of England’s three traveling substitutes.

Freddie Flintoff (right) was seen chatting to England’s Jonny Bairstow at the Oval on Tuesday

Flintoff has returned to the England coaching position following his horrific accident last year

The 45-year-old looked in good spirits as he took part in the training session ahead of the third one-day international against New Zealand

But England insist nothing has changed after international Luke Wright insisted last month he remains an outside bet for the final stages of the tournament in India, where England will defend the trophy they won in 2019.

Archer last played international cricket in March during the T20 series in Bangladesh, taking three for 13 in the second match in Mirpur. Earlier this year, in his second game back in England colors after an almost two-year absence, he underlined his class with figures of six for 40 in an ODI against South Africa in Kimberley.

But hopes of him playing a role in England’s Ashes campaign were dashed when he returned home early from the IPL in April after undergoing elbow surgery during a mid-tournament trip to Belgium.

When it emerged the problem had recurred with Archer, England chief executive Rob Key said he was “distraught”.

This morning, however, he was bowling on a practice pitch at The Oval and had almost completed his full run-up – with England legend Flintoff wearing a baseball glove on his left hand and acting as makeshift wicketkeeper. Key was among those present.

Flintoff suffered a near-fatal car accident last December while filming an episode of BBC Car series Top Gear at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey and was flown to hospital after breaking ribs and facial injuries.

The 45-year-old made his first appearance since the accident this week when he returned to work for the England cricket team with noticeable cuts to his nose and mouth.

Father-of-four Flintoff, one of English football’s great all-rounders and hero of the 2005 Ashes triumph, quit his job at Top Gear after the accident and the BBC has canceled the latest series of the show – with the future remaining in doubt.

Jofra Archer returned to training with a big boost for England ahead of the World Cup

Although it is unclear whether Flintoff will ever appear on television screens again, he returned to senior English cricket last Friday by joining the coaching staff at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff as a mentor for the one-day international series against New Zealand.

Flintoff was an iconic symbol of the famous 2005 Ashes-winning side.

In total he played in 79 Tests and 141 one-day internationals before retiring following England’s victory in the 2009 Ashes.