England men set for county action

Vaughan will have plenty of rest before the Bangladesh Test series

Michael Vaughan is the only one of England's Test stars unavailable to his counties at the start of the season.

The skipper has been given an extended rest following the tours to Zimbabwe and South Africa, and will not play for Yorkshire until 6 May at the earliest.

Vaughan will have two four-day matches and possibly one C&G Trophy game to get into form before the first of two Tests with Bangladesh begins on 26 May.

Mark Butcher is set to miss the start of the season after a wrist operation.

County season 2005: Full fixture lists

Andrew Flintoff, who is expected to sit out the Bangladesh Tests, will be available to Lancashire once he is fully fit after his ankle surgery.

Pace bowlers Simon Jones, James Anderson and Matthew Hoggard are available for all their counties' games.

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Availability of contracted England players:

Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire) - Frizzell County Championship matches on 6 May and 11 May, and C&G Trophy match on 17 May (Ireland/Yorkshire v Scotland/Worcestershire).

James Anderson (Lancashire) - all cricket from the start of the season.

Ashley Giles (Warwickshire) - Frizzell County Championship matches from 13 April, and C&G Trophy match 17 May (Holland/Warwickshire v Leicestershire/Somerset).

Stephen Harmison (Durham) - Frizzell County Championship matches from start of season, and C&G Trophy rounds one and two.

Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire) - all cricket from 13 April.

Geraint Jones (Kent) - all cricket from 17 April.

Simon Jones (Glamorgan) - all cricket from the start of the season.

Andrew Strauss (Middlesex) - Frizzell County Championship matches from 20 April, and C&G Trophy match 17 May (Northumberland/Middlesex v Denmark/Northamptonshire).

Marcus Trescothick (Somerset) - Frizzell County Championship matches from start of season, and C&G Trophy matches 4 May (Leicestershire v Somerset) and 17 May (Holland/Warwickshire v Leicestershire/Somerset).

Graham Thorpe (Surrey) - Frizzell County Championship matches from start of season, and C&G match 17 May (Berkshire/Gloucestershire v Staffordshire/Surrey).

Mark Butcher (Surrey) and Andrew Flintoff (Lancashire) - when their recovery from injury allows.