Simmons is delighted Flintoff will start the season for Lancashire

Former Lancashire chairman Jack Simmons says Andrew Flintoff's availability for the first month of the season will give the county an edge over their rivals.

The ECB have allowed Flintoff to play to aid his recovery from ankle surgery.

Simmons told BBC Radio Lancashire: "Freddie being in the dressing room makes a big difference.

"It happened three or four years ago when he couldn't play for England due to a bad shoulder. He played five games for us and got three centuries."

Flintoff, 30, has been named in the Lancashire squad for the opening game against Surrey starting on 16 April at the Oval.

"We have a big start because Freddie will be with us for a month," said Simmons who recently stepped down as Lancashire chairman after 11 years in the position.

Simmons also believes Lancashire will improve on last year's showing in the Friends Provident Trophy when they finished seventh in the northern group.

"We got beat in the first few games, that makes the confidence go down.

"We won the last two or three. The side is far, far better than that. This year you will see a big, big improvement in the one day game for us."