Vaughan awarded month off

Michael Vaughan will miss the first month of the domestic season, the England & Wales Cricket Board has announced. The ECB awarded Vaughan the break following England's intensive winter tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.

This means he will play just two matches for his county, Yorkshire, before his England duties resume at the end of May, in the first Test against Bangladesh at Lord's. But most other counties will be delighted by the amount of cricket their centrally contracted players will be able to play. James Anderson, who was a lost soul for much of England's campaign, has been freed up to play in all matches for Lancashire, where he will attempt to rediscover his form and fortune.

Vaughan, meanwhile, will compete for Yorkshire in the County Championship against Northamptonshire at Headingley on May 6, and will be available for their clash against Leicestershire from May 11. But then he will join his England side once more to play against Bangladesh and to compete in the Ashes series which starts in July.

Some of the other centrally contracted players will also be allowed some time off. The left-arm spinner, Ashley Giles, will sit out of Warwickshire's opener against the MCC. Steve Harmison, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick and Graham Thorpe will all concentrate on the County Championship, although they will be permitted to play in the C&G one-day tournament.

It is likely that Mark Butcher will miss the start of the season after a wrist operation, but will then be available for Surrey. Andrew Flintoff, who is expected to sit out the Bangladesh Tests, can play for Lancashire once he has made a full recovery from his ankle surgery. The pace bowlers Anderson, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard will be available for all of their counties' games.

James Anderson Lancashire
Fully available for all county cricket

Mark Butcher Surrey
Available once fully fit

Andrew Flintoff Lancashire
Available once fully fit

Ashley Giles Warwickshire
Championship matches from April 13 and C&G Trophy on May 17

Steve Harmison Durham
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 17

Matthew Hoggard Yorkshire
Fully available for all county cricket from April 13

Geraint Jones Kent
Available for all county cricket from April 17

Simon Jones Glamorgan
Fully available for all county cricket

Andrew Strauss Middlesex
Championship matches from April 20 and C&G Trophy on May 17

Marcus Trescothick Somerset
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 4 and May 17

Graham Thorpe Surrey
Championship matches and C&G Trophy on May 17

Michael Vaughan Yorkshire
County championship matches on May 6, May 11 and C&G Trophy on May 17