Flintoff has led England in six Tests and four one-day games

Lancashire star Flintoff has led the team in six Tests and been tipped as Michael Vaughan's long-term successor.

World Cup-winning captain Imran told BBC Five Live: "I've always believed an all-rounder has an extra advantage.

"He can see things from a batsman's and bowler's point of view. A captain who understands bowlers is important - the main captaincy is done in the field."

Interview: Imran Khan

Flintoff took charge of the team in India when Vaughan returned home early because of a knee problem.

He continued in the role in the home Test series against Sri Lanka and will take it on again when he returns to action following an ankle injury.

Australia will have the advantage - they will be very hard to beat Imran on the Ashes

Imran feels the 28-year-old is the ideal man for the job.

"I used to get frustrated as a bowler when dealing with a batting captain, especially in Pakistan, when they didn't understand the concept of reverse swing.

"We would be reverse swinging the ball and I would tell the captain don't take the new ball and they wouldn't understand that."

With Vaughan ruled out of action until next year, Flintoff will lead England in this winter's Ashes series but Imran believes they are in for a tough time.

"I think Australia will have the advantage in those conditions - they will be very hard to beat," he added on the Sportsweek programme.

"The best chance of beating Australia is on subcontinental wickets or in English seaming conditions but in Australian and South African conditions it is not easy to beat them."