CONTRACT rebel Jason Gallian was today facing a dual rap from Lancashire and Lord's.

The 25-year-old opener, who seems almost certain to leave Old Trafford at the end of this season, landed in hot water when he smashed over two of his stumps after being dismissed in the Roses Match yesterday.

Gallian was called back by umpires Nigel Plews and Alan Whitehead, and although he apologised they later confirmed that the incident would be included in their match report to Lord's.

And a Lancashire spokesman also said that the club would be considering action today after consulting with the umpires.

Gallian didn't want to discuss the incident. He has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks as his talks with Lancashire about a new contract have reached stalemate.

He is believed to have asked for guarantees about extra responsibility in the club, possibly including the vice-captaincy or the future captaincy.

And the pressure has been compounded by poor form which has brought him only 100 runs in his last 10 championship innings.

It was all too much yesterday as he jabbed down on a yorker from young Yorkshire paceman Paul Hutchison, only to see the ball trickle on to his leg stump. Lancashire also lost Nathan Wood to Hutchison, who continued his superb recent form with an impressive spell, and when John Crawley was caught behind off Richard Stemp they were deep in follow-on danger at 84-3 in reply to Yorkshire's 419-9 declared.

But Neil Fairbrother and Graham Lloyd responded with 51 in nine overs, each of them hitting a six, to take Lancashire exactly half way to the follow-on target of 270. Rain delayed today's resumption today, Lloyd on 35 needing only nine more runs to become the first Lancashire batsman to reach 1,000 in first class matches this season.

One player definitely leaving Lancashire is Chris Brown, a 23-year-old off spinner from Oldham who has asked to be released to improve his chances of joining another county.

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