GRAHAM Lloyd was finally called in from the cold by Lancashire at the Oval today for their biggest Championship match of the season.

'Bumble' has not played a game so far in his benefit year, with Lancashire preferring Joe Scuderi, Ryan Driver and Tim Roberts.

But Mark Chilton's wrist injury handed him a chance in the crucial match against Surrey, the team who have denied Lancashire the Championship for the last two seasons.

Lloyd came into the middle order with Jamie Haynes and skipper John Crawley opening in the absence of Mike Atherton.

Surrey were also missing their England men -- Alec Stewart, Ian Ward and Graham Thorpe, who is now doubtful for next week's First Test against Australia as he continues to struggle with a calf injury.

But Mark Ramprakash, the champions' winter signing from Middlesex, returned aiming to underline his bid to replace Thorpe at Edgbaston.

And Surrey included their spin wizard Saqlain Mushtaq, who is just back from international duty, for his first Championship appearance of the season.

Lancashire were looking to Muttiah Muralitharan to shine on his penultimate Championship appearance of the season -- at a ground he loves.

Murali took 16 wickets at the Oval in 1998 to spin Sri Lanka to their first Test win in England, then collected 10 more for Lancashire the following year -- although Surrey still won.

They also crushed Lancashire last year at the Oval -- the game which stopped the title returning to Old Trafford.

As Crawley said: "We have got Murali for two more matches and if we can make the most of him in those we will be okay."

The off-spinner has not been as devastating as he was in 1999, with 28 wickets in eight Championship innings compared to 66 in six matches two years ago.

But with 94 wickets from 11 Championship appearances, he is still in line for the fastest ever century for Lancashire -- and possibly in county cricket.

"He has been a diamond for us," added Crawley. "He has found it harder to get wickets this season. County batsmen have learned to cope with spin a lot better.

"But he has stuck at it. He is just a great bloke to have around."