Andy Flintoff, who was yesterday called into England's squad for the third Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge, will be keen to celebrate in the floodlit AXA League clash with Worcestershire - and new England colleague Graeme Hick.
Flintoff is not a Test cricketer yet, of course, and there is every chance that he will be left out of England's final 11 for Nottingham if they decide to play two spinners. But the 20-year-old's selection shows that he will play for his country sooner rather than later.
He found out the news yesterday morning as he was travelling down to Oxfordshire with his Lancashire team mates for a sixes tournament in aid of Wasim Akram's benefit - and thought it was a Mike Watkinson wind-up!
``The call from David Graveney came through on Winker's mobile while we were on the coach,'' he revealed. ``When he told me it was Grav on the phone, I thought it was a wind-up. I couldn't believe it when it really was him.
``It was a short call, he just said 'you're in, congratulations.' The first thing I did was ring home and tell my mum.'' The selection crowns an amazing 12 months for Flintoff, who this time last year was still struggling to break into the Lancashire team after his back problems, and playing for England under 19s.
His big breakthrough came with a match-winning innings at Worcester, so it is fitting that he faces Worcestershire tonight.
Then came a maiden first class century against Hampshire at Portsmouth, followed closely by selection for the England A tour of Kenya and Sri Lanka.
He has been marked down as a future international by the England coach David Lloyd for years. But his form this season, with the bat and recently the ball, has forced a call-up earlier than anyone could have expected.
He hit a magnificent second century at Northampton, helped Lancashire to victory at Warwickshire with a swashbuckling 70, and hammered the fastest half century of the season against Surrey at Old Trafford, including 34 in an over from his former England under 19 team mate Alex Tudor.
And last week at Lytham, he took three wickets in an innings for the first time in first class cricket to show that his recovery from those back problems is well on track.
Flintoff is sure to face the added pressure of being tagged the new Ian Botham whenever he does make his international bow. But he has plenty of experienced Lancashire team mates to lean on for advice and one of them, Neil Fairbrother, is confident that he will handle it. ``The step up from county cricket to a Test environment is massive,'' said Fairbrother. ``But although Freddie is very young, I am sure he can take it in his stride. He is very level-headed, nothing ever seems to worry him too much.''
Flintoff's selection leaves Lancashire with a problem ahead of the Championship game against Glamorgan starting at Colwyn Bay on Wednesday.
They will also be without Mike Atherton while Fairbrother is a major doubt with his ankle ligament injury.
At least the England selectors have ignored John Crawley's claims to open with Atherton, although everyone at Lancashire is convinced that he should also be in the team.
It means a chance for some of Flintoff's fellow youngsters to take part in Lancashire's Championship bid, with Nathan Wood, Paddy McKeown, Mark Harvey and Mark Chilton all in contention.
But first it's Worcestershire at Old Trafford tonight - when all eyes will be on Flintoff.