CRICKET: The next four days will go a long way to deciding if Lancashire are relegated to Division Two of the County Championship.
They must take more points against Worcestershire than Gloucestershire manage against Sussex to make the last game of the season - at home to Gloucestershire - a relegation decider.
But Lancashire have once again been struck by their injury curse ahead of
this match. Chris Schofield is out after picking up a broken toe against
Surrey last week, Andrew Crook, younger brother of Steven, gets a first-team
call up.
The all-rounder, who bowls off-spin, has been in superb form in the second
XI and could start if they pitch looks like taking spin. That looks likely
with two spinners, Ray Price and Shaftab Kahlid, in the Worcestershire
squad.
Peter Martin has again not made the squad with his knee injury and it
remains to be seen what his long-term future is, although he is keen to try
and continue playing.
A bonus for Lancashire is Worcestershire are without three key players.
Vikram Solanki and Gareth Batty are with the England squad and Kabir Ali is
still suffering the injury that caused him to miss the C&G Final.
The previous meeting between these two sides was Lancashire's last
Championship victory, way back in the middle of May.
Gary Keedy played a starring role with a nine-wicket haul and the Red Rose'
s leading wicket taker will again have a crucial role to play.
But Lancashire really need their batting line-up to work as a unit,
something that has been very rare this summer. A good start, and a century
by one of the top four, will give them their best chance of securing a
potentially season saving victory.
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