Andrew Flintoffcould make his long-awaited return to first-team cricket this evening after being named in Lancashire Lightning's NatWest T20 Blast squad to face Birmingham Bears.
Almost five years after his last professional match, when he helped England seal their Ashes triumph in 2009, the 36-year-old was announced in the Red Rose's squad for the clash at Edgbaston.
The all-rounder came out of retirement in May to play a part in the Blast campaign but has yet to feature for the Lightning, who lie second in the North Group.
He has made a couple of appearances for the second XI, even playing a 50-over match against Nottinghamshire when he thumped 40 off only 23 balls to help his side to victory.
Birmingham are sixth in the table, just a point behind the quarter-final places after yesterday’s 15-run defeat to holders Northants Steelbacks at Wantage Road.
The game will see Pakistan stars Shoaib Malik and Junaid Khan face one another as Malik makes his last appearance for the Bears before playing in the Caribbean Premier League.
Lancashire’s Steven Croft is set for his 96th consecutive Twenty20 appearance, which will be a UK record.
NatWest T20 Blast fact
*Junaid Khan is one of three players with an average and strike-rate below 14 in English domestic T20s (minimum 250 balls bowled). Paul Collingwood and Adam Hollioake are the others.