NEIL Fairbrother received a call from England for his one-day expertise at the weekend -- but not in the way he was hoping.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney telephoned Lancashire's veteran left-hander about the forthcoming triangular one-day series against West Indies and Zimbabwe.

But he didn't want Fairbrother to fill the vacancy -- merely to suggest his long-term replacement at number five.

The answer was Graham Thorpe, so it was the Surrey left-hander who was yesterday included in England's squad.

Fairbrother was seriously considered after his superb one-day form this season, with half centuries in Lancashire's last four matches.

But in the end the 36-year-old's age counted against him. Andy Flintoff is the only Lancashire player included for the series which starts with a game against Zimbabwe at the Oval on July 8 and ends in a final at Lord's exactly a fortnight later -- including another match against Zimbabwe at Old Trafford on July 13.

It means that Flintoff will hardly be available for Lancashire for the next month.

He returned to the side for today's NatWest Trophy third round tie against Lincolnshire in Cleethorpes, where the home side made a bright start at 86-3 from 27 overs, and will also be available for the fourth round game at home to Essex on July 5 -- assuming Lancashire win today -- and Friday's floodlit National League game against Northants at Old Trafford.

But the one-day series clashes with Lancashire's Championship games against Derbyshire, Somerset and Durham, as well as a National League game at Somerset.

And assuming Flintoff and Mike Atherton retain their places in the England team for the Second Test against West Indies, which will be announced at the weekend, they will both be unavailable for Lancashire's second floodlit game of the season against Yorkshire next Tuesday as well as the crucial Roses Championship clash which starts two days later.

"This season was always going to be a test of our strength in depth," said Lancashire captain John Crawley.