Flintoff benefit set to break records

Andrew Flintoff will be busy on and off the field during 2006 © Getty Images

Andrew Flintoff is in line to break records during his benefit season, with one report suggesting he could earn as much as £3 million when he cashes in on his fame with a series of global events.

During England's tour of India, which starts next month, a dinner will take place before the third Test at Mumbai and that will be followed by a golf day, featuring the former England captains Ian Botham and David Gower, as well as a dinner in Delhi.

"We're taking Freddie global for his benefit," Flintoff's benefit chairman Paul Beck explained to the Daily Telegraph newspaper. "Two dinners in India, one in Dubai, six in Australia during the Ashes."

Flintoff will certainly cruise past the previous record amount for an English benefit, which is the £800,000 earned by Dermot Reeve, the former Warwickshire captain and England allrounder.

His benefit season began earlier this week with a dinner featuring the former England striker Alan Shearer, and Steve Harmison, at Newcastle United's St James' Park ground. He has already pledged £50,000 to Leukaemia Research from one Lord's dinner.

Today, the accolades continue to come Flintoff's way as he is awarded the freedom of Preston, his hometown in Lancashire.