DAVID Lloyd today sent a tongue-in-cheek message back home to Lancashire: Get your money on Ian Austin to be the World Cup's leading wicket-taker.

Austin again impressed in England's third and last warm-up fixture at Southampton yesterday, opening the bowling with Darren Gough and claiming two early wickets including Robin Smith and conceding only eight runs from his eight overs.

And afterwards Lloyd said: "Get your money on Austin to be the leading wicket-taker in the competition. I think the bookies are offering 33-1."

Lloyd was only joking, but his comments confirmed that Austin will be there for the big day against Sri Lanka at Lord's on Friday - a fantastic achievement, and one which will be hugely popular with all Lancashire supporters.

"The team that you saw out there today is very close to what you will see at Lord's," said Bumble. That is also good news for Andy Flintoff and Neil Fairbrother, meaning that Lancashire will almost certainly have three men in the England team. A fourth honorary Lancastrian who will be involved in the World C up, Wasim Akram, returned to Old Trafford today as his Pakistan team play their last warm-up match, although the start was again delayed.

"It will be great to see all the lads again," said Wasim, who left the club he has served since 1988 in controversial circumstances last season after leading them to a one-day double in his benefit year.

"It is ideal for us to be playing Lancashire, because they are the best one day side in the country."

Lancashire have done their bit by naming their strongest available team. John Crawley, Warren Hegg, Glen Chapple and Peter Martin all return, after missing Monday's game against Scotland, along with youngsters Paddy McKeown, Nathan Wood and Mark Chilton.

Lancs: Wood, Chilton, Crawley (capt), Lloyd, McKeown, Watkinson, Hegg (wk), Chapple, Martin, Green, Smethurst.

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