ANDY Flintoff and floodlit cricket were made for each other.

The powerful Lancashire all-rounder is England's biggest hitter since Ian Botham, with an amazing record of 279 runs from 151 balls in one-day cricket this season - and an average of a six every eight balls.

And Saturday night's CGU National League game against Essex Eagles at Old Trafford is the sort of match he loves.

"It's a different type of atmosphere because it attracts a different type of crowd," said the 21-year-old.

"You get a lot more young people through the turnstiles, and everyone enjoys themselves with a few beers.

"I'd sooner watch that sort of cricket than any other, and hopefully I can get a few runs and help us get a win.

"I seem to be hitting a few sixes this season, but I'm not going to go out there on Saturday trying to keep up my record, making sure I hit every eighth ball for six. IF I get any more sixes, that's a bonus. And if people like the way I play, that's great."

Essex have already suffered from Freddie's broad blade this season, as he smashed 143 off 66 balls with 15 fours and nine sixes when Lancashire Lightning played the Eagles in Chelmsford.

"It would be great if I could play like that again but I don't think it's very likely," he added. "That sort of innings is the sort of thing that only comes along every so often."

It came along again for Flintoff six weeks later, when in his first innings after the bitter disappointment of England's World Cup defeat he hammered Gloucestershire for 158 in 105 balls.

This time there were 26 fours and only five sixes, but it is still the fastest first class century of the season.

Flintoff was disappointed to miss out on England selection for the first Test against New Zealand at Edgbaston, but at least it means he will be able to play for the Lightning at Old Trafford on Saturday.

And he's hoping that Lancashire repeat their experiment of letting the players walk out to music of their own choice.

"I'd either go for Eye of the Tiger, or the House of Pain's Jump Around," he said with a grin.

Old Trafford could be a house of pain for the Essex bowlers, if Freddie gets going.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.