Andrew Flintoff to be paid per spectator for Lancashire's home T20 matches

• Andrew Flintoff will receive £1 per spectator over a pre-agreed figure
• Flintoff targeting a return in Friday's T20 clash with Yorkshire
  

By LAWRENCE BOOTH, CRICKET CORRESPONDENT and NICK HARRIS, CHIEF SPORTS NEWS CORRESPONDENT

Published: 17:30 EDT, 1 June 2014 | Updated: 20:50 EDT, 1 June 2014

Andrew Flintoff is set to cash in on his return to top-level cricket by taking a portion of the gate receipts for Lancashire’s Twenty20 home matches.

It is understood that Flintoff, who is  hopeful of ending his five-year absence from the game on Friday as Lancashire host Roses rivals Yorkshire at Old Trafford, will receive £1 for every spectator who turns up over and above a pre-agreed figure —  possibly 8,000.

The county’s two home matches so far in the Natwest T20 Blast have pulled in crowds of 5,300 against Worcestershire and 5,900 against Warwickshire.

Laughing all the way to the bank: Flintoff will receive a payment per fan for Lancashire's home games

Last year’s home fixture against Yorkshire drew a crowd of over 12,000 — more than double the figure they achieved for any  of their four other Twenty20 games in Manchester. 

Since Jos Buttler, fresh from his heroic 121 off 74 balls in England’s defeat by Sri Lanka at Lord’s on Saturday, may also be available for selection for Lancashire, the opportunity will be there for Flintoff to add a few  thousand pounds to a deal that already includes appearance fees and win bonuses. 

Flintoff is dreaming of a return against bitter rivals Yorkshire, but insists he only wants to play if he proves this week he is good enough for ‘cricket reasons’.

Freddie, 36, came through a low-key playing comeback on Saturday by helping St Annes beat Penrith in a lowly Northern Premier League game.

Comeback: Flintoff returned to cricket when he played for St Annes on Saturday

Low key: The former England all-rounder took three wickets on his return to the game

He took three wickets including a stunning caught and bowled. But he knows if he gets selected for  Lancashire on the big stage now, somebody else will have to miss out and he does not want to get a game for sympathy reasons.

‘I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t think about playing against Yorkshire,’ said Flintoff. ‘It will be a full house, however, Friday is a long way away, it really is — if I get a  go, I get a go but I’m not by any means expecting to play.

‘On Thursday I’ve got a game with the Lancashire second team, which I’m just going to go out there and enjoy. I’m not going to put any undue pressure on myself  thinking that this is a trial for Friday or anything like that. I’m just going to play — and if I get picked, I get picked.

‘If I’m going to play then someone else is going to miss out. They’ve got to be comfortable that, when they tell the player who is missing out, it’s the right decision for cricket reasons. And I need to be comfortable with that as well. 

‘So it’s all down to cricket, down to what value I can give the side and whether I can give more than the  person I take over from.’ 

After Saturday’s cameo, which include facing three balls as a batsman before being caught on the  boundary attempting a six, he stressed how the competition for Lancashire is especially tough now.

Realistic: Flintoff said he is not putting too much pressure on himself ahead of his comeback

Target: Flintoff has set his sights on playing against rivals Yorkshire on Friday night

‘I’m not putting too much  pressure on myself,’ added Flintoff. ‘I’m not making big hopes.

‘I’m just going to see where it goes. I appreciate that Lancashire are on a roll in Twenty20s and there’s Jos Buttler and Jimmy Anderson and people to come back into that side. 

‘So it’s not a gimme that I’m going to play. But I’m going to try to put myself in the frame. The comeback has just crept up on me. It’s not something that was a goal of mine, that I set out to do. 

‘It has just come around quite  innocently and that’s been the nice thing about it. I’m not chasing anything. I’m just  enjoying it. Why shouldn’t I? I like cricket.’