England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff insists the lure of the loot will not raise the pressure in Saturday's Stanford Super Series showdown.
Flintoff, 30, will be one of the key men in England's attempts to win the $1million-a-man prize against the Stanford Superstars.
But he does not view potential tight scenarios in the 20-over affair any differently to a one-day international against India or the Ashes contests of 2005.
‘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.’
The poor visibility under the floodlights at the ground has cooked up the possibility of a dropped catch from a skier being the difference between heading home with 15 huge cheques or leaving empty handed.
Such is Flintoff's profile that the financial rewards will undoubtedly make less difference to him than to some of his younger colleagues.
But Flintoff said: ‘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.’
Flintoff has played in matches outside the usual international scheduling before but, unlike the Super Series in Australia when he played for a World XI alongside Kevin Pietersen and Steve
Harmison, feels this is different because he will be wearing the three lions on his chest.
‘The Super Series was different in Australia and I didn't get the same buzz from playing for a few reasons. ‘It was a group of players just thrown together who didn't really know each other and as a spectacle it wasn't that good.
‘With this group it might not be a full international but we'll play for each other and this is a great pre-tour for India which is going to be massive.
‘The more time you spend together on tour the better. You get more practise together and more more matches together.’
A year 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,’ said Flintoff.
‘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.’
Flintoff was one of the England players hit by a sickness bug this week but that has now cleared up.
So all but Ryan Sidebottom, who is almost certainly out of the reckoning for Saturday with a calf strain, took part in centre-wicket practice in the south of the island on Thursday.
