LANCASHIRE legend Gary Keedy believes ex-Radcliffe junior Stephen Parry may have to leave his home county in order to progress his career.

Left-arm spinners Keedy and Parry, regular team-mates in limited overs cricket at Emirates Old Trafford until the former left in 2012 to move to Surrey and then Nottinghamshire, are back together playing league cricket for Formby.

Keedy, aged 40, currently has a role as player/spin bowling coach/physiotherapist at Trent Bridge, and he is supplementing his job with weekend cricket in the Liverpool Competition.

He took five wickets on debut last weekend.

Parry is doing similar, although the 29-year-old is currently behind Simon Kerrigan in the Lancashire pecking order for County Championship cricket.

He has only played nine first-class matches since debuting in 2007, but has forged a reputation as one of the best limited overs spinners in the country, highlighted by five England caps last year.

In fact, he has been pigeon-holed by many as a limited overs specialist – a tag which Keedy reckons is unfair.

“My view is that he’s good enough to, and probably should, be playing first-class cricket,” said the 2011 Championship title winner.

“He’s obviously going to play the one-day stuff, but he’s at an age where he’s probably got to make a decision. To be fair to him, I think Lancashire need to make a decision as well.

“I can’t advise him beyond that because it’s ultimately his decision as to what he does. He’s probably toed and froed with going on loan or possible moves.

“I don’t think he’s had a fair crack at first-class level. Every time he’s played, he’s not let anybody down. He’s actually done quite well.

“To have two bowlers on your staff of great ability makes the decision on who plays quite tough. He doesn’t need to be pigeon-holed as a one-day bowler.

“Likewise, Simon is probably thinking he wants a crack in the one-day game.

“From Pazza’s point of view, with his batting as well, if you got on a wicket that wasn’t going to spin, you’ve got a holding bowler who can bat at number eight as well. He’s got a couple of strings to his bow in that regard.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire captain Tom Smith, who missed this week’s Championship win over Kent with a back injury, has been ruled out of tomorrow's trip to Northamptonshire.