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.