WARREN Hegg is the latest victim of Lancashire's early season injury curse.

The wicket keeper was forced off late on the opening day of the championship game against Northants at Old Trafford with a back spasm.

Neil Fairbrother, already captaining the side because of injuries to Mike Watkinson and Wasim Akram, took over behind the stumps as Northants reached 281-4.

But Hegg passed an early fitness test today to resume his role as Northants slowly progressed to 287 without further loss.

"I had been in quite a bit of pain all day," Hegg explained. "I first felt it when I turned round on a chair in the dressing room before we went out and it kept getting worse until it got to the point where I couldn't carry on.

"So I decided to go off and Harvey took over. I've never had any problems with my back before so it is a bit of a worry."

It was tough going for Lancashire after Northants won the toss and chose to bat on a slow pitch.

Gary Keedy lifted their hopes with two wickets in three overs just after lunch to reduce the visitors to 147-3, but veteran all-rounder Kevin Curran dominated the rest of the day by moving to the brink of a century with nine fours and superb straight sixes off Keedy and Peter Martin.

Keedy and Gary Yates found plenty of turn in the pitch which must have encouraged Northants veteran John Emburey, as there should be more spin there through the match.

Lancashire already face a tough task to grab their first championship win of the season and climb off the bottom.

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