Cricket: Flintoff's return not a one-off

Andrew Flintoff. Photo / Getty Images

Former England cricket captain Andrew Flintoff says his comeback for Lancashire will not be a one-off, and that he wants to become a roving Twenty20 specialist.

The 36-year-old signed a new deal with Lancashire yesterday after nearly five years out of cricket and, if his body holds up to the rigours of professional sport, he aims to juggle his television career with playing Twenty20 matches around the world.

The circus around Flintoff's return was expected to have been in evidence overnight (NZT) when at least five television crews were expected at St Annes Cricket Club near Blackpool, where Flintoff was due to play for his club side against Penrith in the Northern League as he tries to get match-fit before a return for Lancashire next week in the Natwest T20 Blast Roses match against Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

"He looks pretty fit and strong," said Mike Watkinson, Lancashire's director of cricket."He has looked after himself, but he will have to be put through his paces and get into the team on merit."

Flintoff will play a maximum of 12 matches in nine weeks for Lancashire.

He hopes to attract offers from teams in Australia's Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League, events he would have to fit around television commitments, such as his award-winning sport's quiz A League Of Their Own.

"I feel young. I behave like I'm young," he said. "It's the easiest decision I've made in my career. Lancs think I can do it. I think I can do it.

"I can't guarantee performance but I'm going to have a go at this.

"I've got to prove myself. I'm playing for the reasons that I first started playing cricket, because I love the game and I enjoy it."

It is a remarkable return for Flintoff, who had shown virtually no interest in cricket after retiring in 2010.

"I don't want it to be one year. When I'm in the nets I'm stood in there with a bat in my hand just grinning. When I'm bowling it still hurts a bit, but I'm loving running in to bowl and if I can take that into a game I might be quite dangerous."