ONE-DAY kings they may be, but aren't Lancashire over-egging the pudding a bit by restricting Ian Austin to limited-overs duty next season ?

I can't believe that Haslingden's finest hasn't a role to play in Lancashire's county championship team, even if the returning Sri Lankan spin wizard Murali is going to bowl unchanged from one end all summer.

Seeing Austin turn out under the White Rose of Yorkshire is about as likely as the West Indies taking a Test match into five days.

But as an adopted Tyke, I'd love to see the championship cast-off trundling in for a few overs on Headingley's green top and then blasting it all over Leeds and Scarborough with the bat.

I've got David Byas's number if you're interested Oscar.