Andrew Flintoffsays the NatWest T20 Blast, which he almost snatched for Lancashire Lightning last season, will be stronger this year than England and Wales’ Twenty20 tournament has been before.
Flintoff believes signings like Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch will take the competition to a new level.
The 37-year-old former England all-rounder played in the tournament, the first of its type, each year from 2004 to 2009 before making a shock return last term.
He made just three appearances but the last was in the final when his dismissal of Ian Bell and unbeaten 20 from eight balls brought the Lightning within a hit of beating Birmingham Bears.
Finally got my hands on this , just 8 months too late @NatWestT20Blast@ECB_cricket its your fault @crwoakes19 !! pic.twitter.com/fDFfQXl9ef
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) April 16, 2015
Flintoff was back at Edgbaston today for the launch of the 2015 Blast, for which more than 88,000 tickets have been sold ahead of its start on May 15, and reflected positively on the progress of T20 cricket on these shores.
"The competition gets stronger ... it's perceived completely differently (to how it was at the start)," he said.
"It's probably the premier tournament of the domestic game now, with the crowds and excitement behind it.
"We're seeing that, with some of the players coming over - the world's best, Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Maxwell, Finch."
Gayle’s signing for Somerset, McCullum’s for Birmingham plus Maxwell and Finch being lined up by Yorkshire are among a host of high-profile deals also including Kumar Sangakkara for Surrey, Mahela Jayawardene for Sussex Sharks, Shahid Afridi for Northants Steelbacks and James Faulkner for Lancashire Lightning.
Great morning at Edgbaston with the boys at the #T20Blast launch @NatWestT20Blast ! pic.twitter.com/MuMnNXfgFr
— andrew flintoff (@flintoff11) April 16, 2015
With such quality spread across the teams, Flintoff thinks the Blast can compete with the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League, both of which he has played in.
Flintoff, who represented Brisbane Heat last winter, said of the Blast: "I think it's going to be fiercely contested.
"I played in the Big Bash, and the standard was high ... (but) this stands up as a competition."
The former England captain added: "Anything in this country, we look at things abroad and say everything is far better over there. We don't really focus on what we've got.
"I didn't see anything within the Big Bash and thought 'this is far better than what we've got at home'."
Flintoff was coy today about the prospect of him playing in this year’s Blast, having previously said he will talk to new Lancashire head coach and cricket director Ashley Giles, a former England team-mate, about the possibility.
"I'll have a cup of tea with @Gilo& see what's what" - @flintoff11 at #T20Blast launch day: https://t.co/EKiMswn9Ndpic.twitter.com/pCUjV35B4n
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) April 16, 2015
"I'm not arrogant enough to think I can just walk into the Lancashire dressing-room and say 'I'm back, I'm playing'," Flintoff stressed.
"The one reason I wanted to play (last year) is because I love it ... and I never want to look back at my life, when I'm older, and think 'I wish I'd done that'.
"I don't see failing as a problem. But I see not having a go as a crime. So I thought 'I'm going to have a go', and I certainly loved it."
The big man @flintoff11 is officially here to answer your questions! http://t.co/YDRYlMwThHpic.twitter.com/Z1gttZczcI
— NatWest T20 Blast (@NatWestT20Blast) April 16, 2015