LANCASHIRE will ask John Crawley to step into the firing line at Northampton tomorrow.

Mike Atherton is missing on Test duty for the clash with the new Northants pace pair of Devon Malcolm and West Indies ace Franklyn Rose.

But rather than calling up a specialist opener like Steve Titchard, Lancashire are set to promote Crawley to partner young Nathan Wood, creating the space for Graham Lloyd to return lower down the order.

Crawley is no novice to facing the new ball. He was a regular opener in his days at Manchester Grammar School and Cambridge University, and has gone in first a few times for Lancashire, although not in the Championship for two years.

It will also be a big test for Wood, who has made an encouraging start to his first season as a first team regular. After a disappointing summer in 1997, Northants made their pace attack the top priority. They tempted Malcolm away from Derbyshire with a massive contract, and snapped up Rose after his impressive performances against England last winter to replace Pakistani flop Mohammed Akram.

There is also the former England left arm seamer Paul Taylor, who has caused Lancashire problems in the past and took four wickets in last season's dreary draw at Old Trafford.

But Lloyd will be desperate to seize his chance after the bitter disappointment of being left out of Lancashire's last two Championship matches against Kent and Essex.

Lancashire fans will also be fascinated to see whether Wasim Akram plays following his surprise appearance in the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter final defeat at Surrey. If not, Crawley would have to double up as opener and captain.

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