NEIL Fairbrother is almost certainly out of Lancashire's Championship game against Derbyshire at Old Trafford tomorrow after a disastrous day at Edgbaston, writes ANDY WILSON.

Fairbrother suffered a calf injury trying to save a quick single early in the Warwickshire innings and had to bat with a runner in Lancashire's reply.

The 32-year-old, hero of Saturday's Benson and Hedges Cup triumph, has already missed one Championship game with a calf strain this season, against Essex at Chelmsford.

"We can't afford to take any chances with Harvey - we have got to make sure he is 100 per cent for the NatWest game against Derby in a fortnight," said captain Mike Watkinson today.

Steve Titchard is certain to return after his consistent Championship form so Nick Speak, twelfth man at Lord's and again yesterday, could miss out for a third time.

Lancashire's other big selection dilemma tomorrow concerns Steve Elworthy. Although he still diplomatically refuses to discuss his disappointment at being left out at Lord's and again yesterday, Elworthy's black look as he practised alone in the Edgbaston nets said it all.

But Elworthy has been one of only three ever-presents in Lancashire's Championship side this season, along with skipper Watkinson and wicket keeper Warren Hegg, and if he doesn't play tomorrow it would raise questions about his future at Old Trafford.

Yet Gary Keedy will definitely return on a pitch expected to take turn.

Yesterday's 13-run defeat was Lancashire's fourth out of five in the Sunday League and left them languishing at the wrong end of the table with any lingering title hopes shot to pieces.

The damage was done when Watkinson lost the toss allowing Warwickshire first use of an old, wearing pitch. Neil Smith and Nick Knight, who have both opened for England, took full advantage by hammering 50 off the first eight overs. But after that batting was never so easy.

Gary Yates and Watkinson showed it was a spinner's pitch by conceding just 32 runs each from their eight overs, but Lancashire showed their lack of a third spinner by turning to Graham Lloyd's very occasional off-spin. The gamble backfired, as he went for 19 in two.

Lancashire's reply got off to a disastrous start but they were always struggling after Crawley was caught on the boundary for a 60-ball half-century.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.