IAN AUSTIN is the latest addition to Lancashire's injury list, and is set to miss the Championship match against Essex starting in Chelmsford tomorrow.

Austin has suffered a reaction to the cut knee he sustained in the opening Championship match at Sussex a month ago.

"The knee swelled up a lot at Canterbury last week. I was taking painkillers to play, but I might need to give it a rest for it to recover," Austin explained today.

His loss would be a big blow for Lancashire, w ho also have injury doubts over Peter Martin, Mike Atherton and Wasim Akram.

Atherton and Wasim are expected to play, but Martin's hamstring problem might take longer to clear up. Richard Green has been called away from the second team match against Gloucestershire at Bristol as cover, with Glen Chapple also set to return.

Meanwhile leg-spinner Chris Schofield produced his best-ever figures on the first day of the second team match against Gloucestershire.

The 19-year-old from Littleborough claimed 4-57 from 25.4 overs, and with Gary Yates chipping in with 3-60, Gloucestershire were bowled out for 318.

As well as Green, Lancashire are without the injured Steve Titchard, so paceman Paul Ridgway came in for his first appearance of the season - as an opening batsman but Lancashire slipped to 25-2 in reply.

Glos 318 all out (Lazenbury 120no, Hewson 78, Schofield 4-57, Yates 3-60, Smethurst 2-43), Lancs 25-2 (McKeown 13no).

Former Lancashire and Rishton all-rounder Steve Elworthy has been called into South African's tour party to replace seamer Roger Telemachus, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the opening game against Worcestershire last week.

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