RYAN Driver was called in from the cold by Lancashire at Colwyn Bay today.

The 22-year-old opener, who arrived at Old Trafford from Worcestershire during the winter, had been left out of the last seven Championship matches, and hasn't played for the first team since the game at Northampton in May.

But he scored a double century in a recent second team match and was recalled for the important relegation battle against Glamorgan in place of Mike Atherton, who is again away with England.

Driver started the season as Atherton's opening partner, but could only manage 66 runs from five innings at Somerset, Leicestershire and Northants.

Since then Lancashire have experimented with Jamie Haynes and Mark Chilton as openers, but they gave Driver another go as they aimed to end a run of three straight Championship defeats which have left them just above the relegation zone.

Glamorgan dropped deeper into trouble with a crushing defeat at Somerset at the weekend.

They were also below strength with Robert Croft called up to join Atherton at Trent Bridge, and former England opener Steve James missing after breaking a bone in his hand at Taunton.

The teams have met once before this season, in the National League, with Glamorgan claiming a four-wicket win at Old Trafford.

The Championship game was completely washed out in controversial circumstances, with Glamorgan vice captain Adrian Dale then angering Lancashire by suggesting that Old Trafford would not be ready to stage the Test Match against Pakistan.

Dale has been Glamorgan's most consistent batsman this season along with Jimmy Maher, their overseas player from Queensland, while veteran Steve Watkin is still leading their bowling attack.

It was Lancashire's first visit to Colwyn Bay since 1998, when John Crawley hit a century in each innings, but the game fizzled out into a tam draw.