Flintoff aims to play in all forms of game for Lancashire this summer

Flintoff will miss the IPL (GETTY IMAGES)

Andrew Flintoff said last night that he intends to play all games for Lancashire next season after further routine knee surgery earlier this week. The procedure went better than Flintoff expected and although his original intention was to play only one-day cricket for the county he said his goals had now moved. He will, however, miss the Indian Premier League in April.

Graham Thorpe has been appointed batting coach of the England Lions for next month's tour of the United Arab Emirates. Thorpe has filled the same role for Surrey since 2008 and links up with a coaching team of performance director David Parsons and lead fast bowling coach Kevin Shine. Thorpe is following a similar path to Graham Gooch, the Essex batting coach who helped England ahead of their first Test in South Africa.