Fred - No extra pressure

Flintoff: cricket's the same game

It is a dangerous thing to start thinking about the money. We've got a game on Saturday against a good side so if you start spending the money in your head you'll come unstuck.

Andrew Flintoff
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Andrew Flintoff insists the money will not raise the pressure in Saturday's Stanford Super Series showdown.

Every player on the winning team will take home $1million - unprecedented prize money in cricket - while the losers will receive nothing.

But Flintoff reckons he has experienced pressure just as intense in games against India or Australia.

"Everyone is going on about the pressure the money brings but in the last over in Mumbai in front of 70,000 people that is proper pressure, and I can't imagine with a bit more money on it, it is going to be any different," Flintoff said.

"Look at the Ashes series in 2005. We've all played in these situations.

"You're either going to perform or you're not, it doesn't matter how much money is on it. "The other night I couldn't find my yorker and a couple of nights earlier I could, so if I can't get it on Saturday that will just be the pressure of the game."

Dangerous

As for the huge sums on offer, Flintoff added: "It is a dangerous thing to start thinking about the money. We've got a game on Saturday against a good side so if you start spending the money in your head you'll come unstuck.

"There is a bit of history in what we're doing but ultimately cricket is still the same game. You've still got to bowl yorkers and bumpers so once you get out on the field it is the same as normal."

Twelve months ago, Flintoff was undergoing a fourth operation on his left ankle but has not felt discomfort since, which has increased confidence he can extend his end-of-season form into the long term.

"I've worked hard and hopefully what I've done to my ankle since is the end of it," he said. "You don't know. You hope but there is not much more I can do. I don't lay awake at night wondering about it I just get on with it and play.

"When I was coming back it was tough but the thought of playing for England again was the motivation. The overriding factor was pulling the England shirt back on again."