MIKE HUSSEY showed why he is a potential target for Lancashire by leading a Northants rearguard action at Old Trafford.

The Australian left-hander, who hit 70 and 82 against Lancashire in Northampton in May, added another 93 after John Crawley's brilliant 280 had left the visitors needing 451 to avoid the follow-on.

Hussey could not quite match Stuart Law, Essex's Aussie run machine who staked his claim to take over from Muttiah Muralitharan at Old Trafford next year with three centuries in as many days earlier in the season.

But with Mike Atherton expected to retire, Lancashire may decide that a reliable and experienced opening partner for Mark Chilton - such as Hussey, who has now scored 1,445 Championship runs this summer - is exactly what they need.

However Northants are set to try and keep Hussey. They had been planning to re-sign Matthew Hayden as captain next year, but Australia's busy international schedule means that Hayden and other Test players who could interest Lancashire - such as Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn - are likely to be unavailable.

Northants resumed today on 218 for three, still needing 233 to avoid the follow-on, after Chris Schofield had claimed the crucial wicket of Hussey, lbw trying to sweep seven runs short of his century.

Gary Keedy took the other two wickets in two impressive spells from the Warwick Road End, finding turn immediately to have Adrian Rollins dropped off his third ball and bowl him three deliveries later.

Keedy also had Tony Penberthy caught by Andy Flintoff off a top-edged sweep.

And although there were no wickets for Glen Chapple, he struck an important blow in a determined opening spell by forcing Mal Loye to retire hurt with a cracked finger.

Earlier Crawley had missed out on the chance to match coach Bob Simpson, and his former team-mate Jason Gallian, by scoring a triple century at Old Trafford.

His 280 was six short of his career best for England A in South Africa in 1993, and one short of his Lancashire best against Somerset at Southport the following year.

But it was a new record for a Lancashire batsman against Northants and with Warren Hegg continuing his superb batting form with 75 not out, Crawley declared on 600 for six - Lancashire's highest total at Old Trafford since 1911, their best ever against Northants and only the third time they have reached 600 since the war.