Worcestershire v Lancashire: AUSTRALIAN-born batsman Andrew Crook was due to make his Lancashire debut in their most important County Championship game of the season today.

Crook has been called up for today's match against Worcestershire with leg-spinner Chris Schofield nursing a broken toe suffered against Surrey last week.

Lancashire must pick up more points at Worcester than Gloucestershire manage against Sussex to stand any chance of avoiding the drop to Division Two.

Crook, an all-rounder who bowls off-spin, has been in superb form in the second XI, and was expected to play a key role.

Lancashire were missing Peter Martin, ruled out with a knee injury, along with new father Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson, both on England duty. Mike Watkisnon's side need their batting line-up to work as a unit, something that has been very rare this summer.

Kabir Ali is Worcestershire's major injury absentee. The England seamer is missing with the stomach injury which saw him cruelly ruled out of England's plans for the ICC Champions Trophy.

Shaftab Khalid has been recalled in place of Nadeem Malik, while Gareth Batty and Vikram Solanki are both on international duty with England.