LANCASHIRE will look for Richard Green to stage a repeat of last year's Roses spectacular when they launch the new cricket season at Headingley tomorrow.
Both sides are without all their internationals for the four day friendly, with Mike Atherton joined by John Crawley and Darren Gough on an England squad get-together, and Warren Hegg, Glen Chapple and Jason Gallian playing for England A against The Rest at Edgbaston on Friday - a game which also includes Yorkshire's Michael Vaughan, Anthony McGrath and Chris Silverwood.
In addition, neither side has their overseas player - like Lancashire's Wasim Akram, new Yorkshire signing Michael Slater is due to arrive before the end of the month.
And to complete the tally of notable absentees, Yorkshire are without injured duo Craig White and Peter Hartley.
In a similar situation last year, when the sides played three matches at Old Trafford, Green seized his chance with stunning figures of 12 for 78 in 32.5 overs.
But amazingly he was then dropped for Lancashire's first Championship game against Kent at Canterbury, and kept out of the side until mid-August.
Lancashire also include Formby-based opener Paddy McKeown, reserve wicket keeper Jamie Haynes and at number three Andrew Flintoff, who impressed as England under-19 captain in Pakistan this winter.
Yorkshire are set to hand first team debuts to opener Matthew Wood, Arnie Sidebottom's son Ryan, a left arm pace bowler, and Batty, a young off-spinner who toured Pakistan with Flintoff.
Lancashire (from): Titchard, McKeown, Flintoff, Fairbrother, Lloyd, Watkinson, Austin, Yates, Green, Haynes, Martin, Shadford.
Yorkshire (from): Moxon, Wood, Byas, Kettleborough, Blakey, Parker, Wharf, Batty, Hamilton, Stemp, Sidebottom, Hoggard.
Rishton will have Aussie Mick Worden, of Stand, as deputy professional for Saturday's Lancashire League opener, the champions v cup winners clash with Ramsbottom at Blackburn Road.
But they are still searching for a substitute pro for Sunday's first league game at Rawtenstall, with Meryck Pringle involved in domestic cricket in South Africa.
Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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