IAN Austin's World Cup hopes were in the balance at Grace Road today.

The Lancashire all-rounder faced a last-minute fitness test before the Championship game against Leicestershire on the thigh injury which he picked up at Lord's last week.

He suffered a reaction to the injury after playing in the National League victory at Essex on Sunday and did not want to take any risks with the England squad gathering next week.

But even not playing would be a risk with a bandwagon building up for Yorkshire's Gavin Hamilton to be called up from the Scotland squad.

Lancashire have a second team game starting on Friday, and Austin would have to prove his fitness in that or risk losing his hard-earned World Cup place.

Neil Fairbrother was definitely out, although there is no question that he will be fit for World Cup duty next week.

The season may only be two games old but the race is also on for left-arm paceman Alan Mullally, who is desperate to be fit for England's World Cup bid.

Leicestershire's Mullally has been plagued by a side strain since returning from the Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah but is hoping to prove his fitness today.

Now cricket manager Jack Birkenshaw is hoping four days of cricket will aid the bowler's fitness ahead of the six-week tournament.

"He's looking like he will play. He came through a fitness test and hopefully he will be ready," said Birkenshaw.

"He needs the game and obviously we need him to bowl Lancashire out. They are a good side and we are looking forward to the game.

"They have got lots of key players and so have we and I think they will be challenging us again this season.

"We have started off well but we need to get consistent play to get into the rhythm."

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