FORMER Lancashire favourite Nick Speak backed Graham Lloyd's unflappable temperament to ensure his success at international level after another stunning century at Old Trafford.

The pair are still best mates, but yesterday was the first time Speak had been sent chasing around the outfield by Lloyd's destructive batting after his winter move to Durham.

The England coach's son smashed 134 from 85 balls to follow 102 in the Championship game against Durham and 225 against Yorkshire, and equal the highest ever Sunday score by a Lancashire player set by Clive Lloyd against Somerset in 1970.

And afterwards Speak backed his claims for a place in England's squad for the Texaco Trophy games against Australia, saying: "It wouldn't bother Bumble - nothing fazes him.

"He is such a laid back character that I'm sure he would fit right into the England dressing room.

"He's always been a fine player, the big difference at the moment is confidence. I'd call him a streaky player because he tends to have very good streaks of form followed by some bad lows. At the moment he is on a high - I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a few more centuries in the next couple of weeks.

"The way he batted against us, he basically ruined what could have been quite a close game."

Lloyd, who made his England debut against Pakistan last summer, but was then overlooked for the winter tours and spent his off-season playing football for the Dog and Partridge, was typically low-key about his sensational form.

"It would have been nice to get another run and beat Clive's record," he said. "Still, I'm very pleased to get 134. I feel I'm playing very well and we've won the game, so I'm delighted."

It was an emotional day for Speak, who was given a rousing reception by a good-sized Old Trafford crowd when he walked out to bat in the Durham innings.

"I couldn't believe it," he reflected. "I expected a bit of quiet applause but nothing like that. It means a lot, because it shows that people appreciated what I did in my years at Lancashire. I never wanted to leave."

Durham's cause was already hopeless when Speak came in at 56-3 in reply to Lancashire's massive 268-6. He made a tidy 19 before going caught behind to Glen Chapple for the second time in four days, and although Mike Roseberry hit an unbeaten 91. Durham were never in the hunt and ended 57 runs short.

Lancashire's other hero was John Crawley, who teamed up with Lloyd in their highest-ever stand of 197 in 28 overs after they had slipped to 23-2 Crawley stroked 83 from 11 balls. Wasim Akram is back to boost Lancashire's defence of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

The Pakistani Test ace made a surprise return to Old Trafford yesterday to give them a huge lift on the eve of launching their campaign against Yorkshire.

He still won't be available to play until Friday's third qualifiying tie against Warwickshire at Edgbaston because he needs treatment on the shoulder injury which ruled him out of Pakistan's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka and allowed his early arrival.

And skipper Mike Watkinson was also ruled out of today's clash and is set to miss Wednesday's home game against Derbyshire as he continues to have treatment on his arm injury.

Yorkshire arrived with England paceman Darren Gough summing up their fierce desire for Roses revenge, after Lancashire beat them in the semi-finals of both one-day knockout competitions last season.

"We owe it to our fans who had to suffer last year," he said.

"Maybe it will be third time lucky for us and we deserve some success. The two games last season showed us what we have to do to beat Lancashire and I don't think we are far off achieving that level of performance.

"And if you manage to knock out Lancashire, you know you'll not be far away at the end of the competition."

It was a very different Yorkshire team from the one beaten by Lancashire in the pre-season Roses friendly at Headingley, with Gough, Craig White, Chris Silverwood, Richard Blakey and new Australian signing Darren Lehmann all set at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire reached 43 without loss from 10.5 overs, Martin Moxon on 20 and David Byas on 15 before rain stopped play.

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