NEIL FAIRBROTHER led the applause for a rare century from Peter Martin on the day he announced the end of an era at Old Trafford.

And today Graham Lloyd followed Fairbrother by confirming that he will also retire at the end of the season.

Martin blasted an unbeaten 117, including six sixes, and with Chris Schofield falling nine short of his maiden century in another promising innings, Lancashire piled up 598, their highest ever score against Warwickshire.

Bad light then stopped play in mid-afternoon of the second day of the

Championship match - after Fairbrother revealed that he has decided to call

it quits after a difficult season which was badly undermined before it

started by a blood clot in his leg.

"I have always said that I wanted to continue playing while I was enjoying

my cricket and maintaining a standard which I found acceptable," Fairbrother

said. "Unfortunately that has not been the case this season, and it hasn't

been much fun. However I have had a long and successful career and I am

proud of what I have achieved. I have played in some great teams with some

great players, and most important I have made some great mates."

It means he will make his last appearance at Old Trafford in the Norwich

Union League game against Northants on Sunday - the day before his 39th

birthday - and with Lloyd also hoping to be recalled for one last

appearance, that should ensure a bumper crowd as Lancashire cricket lovers

say goodbye to two entertaining batsmen who were key members of their

all-conquering one-day team.

Fairbrother needs 15 runs to become the first Lancashire player to score

7,000 in what used to be the Sunday League, and also leads the Red Rose list

in the Benson and Hedges Cup, while his first class record of almost 20,000

runs and 47 centuries puts him among the county's all-time greats - and

includes that memorable 366 against Surrey in 1990, still a record at the

Oval.

He also played 10 Tests and 75 one-day internationals for England,

including three World Cups and one final, at Melbourne in 1992.

"It was a privilege to play that many times for my country, and I think I

did my bit," he said. "But my main memories came with Lancashire, in Lord's

finals and great one-day matches."

Fairbrother played in 10 Lord's finals and won seven, while Lloyd was not

far behind in a career which also brought him more than 10,000 runs - most

memorably 241 against Essex at Chelmsford in 1996 which included a record 12

sixes.

But he has struggled for his place in the last two seasons, although he did

start well this year with three consecutive half centuries before his form

tailed off.

"I am happy with my career and proud of it," said the 33-year-old, who made

his debut in 1988 - six years after Fairbrother. "But I haven't hit the

standards required in the last couple of seasons and it's time to finish."