CARL HOOPER has revealed that he has had talks with Lancashire about coming to Old Trafford as a short-term overseas replacement for the injured Harbhajan Singh.
Hooper is currently out of action in the West Indies after quitting as captain following their early World Cup exit, meaning he could join Lancashire immediately.
Red Rose manager Mike Watkinson is still looking for a stand-in with Harbhajan still receiving treatment on his finger injury in India.
Lancashire were expected to sign a specialist spinner but none are available and they may settle instead for Hooper's flat off spin. His batting would also come in handy when Andy Flintoff links up with England later this month.
Flintoff showed how much Lancashire will miss him as he grabbed the spotlight in their first win of the season yesterday.
But the unflappable Alec Swann made sure it wasn't a one-man show as they beat Durham by five wickets at the Riverside Stadium.
Swann carved out an unbeaten 72, playing the anchor role while Freddie blasted the Durham attack all over the ground, and then linked up with the determined Warren Hegg to steer Lancashire to victory in the
penultimate over.
Manager Mike Watkinson said: "When Freddie plays like that he takes the game away from the other side and in terms of what had happened before it was a remarkable innings. But there were other contributions and Swanny stuck it out to the end which was important."
After two championship draws and a shock defeat by Northants in the first one-dayer of the season, Lancashire desperately needed to get on the winning trail and they did so despite a virus which had swept through the camp, and an injury to Kyle Hogg during the match.
The 19-year-old all-rounder suffered a calf strain and had to be helped off.
When Lancashire, chasing Durham's 186-8, stumbled to 78-4 it looked bleak but Flintoff's fireworks, 42 off 24 balls with a six and eight fours, transformed everything.
The six came off a free hit after off-spinner Michael Gough had no-balled.
Lancashire won't have Freddie for much longer but are hoping he will make a big impact in the championship match against Middlesex at Lord's on Friday.
The same applies to Jimmy Anderson, who has recovered from a spot of ankle trouble and travelled to Exmouth today for tomorrow's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy tie with Devon.
However, with Glen Chapple expected to be fit after missing yesterday's game with a virus, Anderson is unlikely to be risked against the Minor Counties side.
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