DAVID Lloyd has praised and defended Lancashire's decision to rest Mike Atherton and Peter Martin for the championship game against Somerset.

"They are both jaded," said Lloyd, who was at Old Trafford yesterday. "If any Lancashire member asked why they aren't playing, I would say that a jaded player is run of the mill, under achieving.

"It would not make any difference if Lancashire had been top of the table. We should all be looking for the best thing from the players' point of view.

"I am not interested in hearing the view of what happened years ago. I am only interested in what happens now."

Lloyd has always believed that Test players should be offered a rest - even as Lancashire coach last season he was concerned about Atherton's workload.

He has told England players to approach him if they feel jaded - yesterday Graeme Hick did not play for Worcestershire and Jack Russell didn't captain Gloucestershire, even thougb Courtney Walsh has returned to the West Indies. Atherton and Martin are expected to return to Lancashire's team for the Sunday League game against Somerset.

With Nick Speak and John Crawley both ruled out of the championship clash by injury, Lancashire were forced to give a first team debut to 28-year-old Scouser Paddy McKeown.

But Neil Fairbrother and Steve Titchard showed the strength in depth at the club with contrasting centuries as Lancashire moved towards a big first innings total.

Fairbrother hit 144 from 162 balls in a third wicket stand of 283 with twelve fours and six sixes. It was his first century since a rapid 132 at Taunton last season and Somerset are now officially his favourite opponents - this was his sixth century against them, beating five against Yorkshire. He must like cider.

Titchard took more than five and a half hours to reach three figures for the second time in four championship innings this season, taking his runs tally to 351.

McKeown, normally an opener, was kept waiting until after tea before coming in at number six. He played a few promising shots but was unlucky to be brilliantly caught and bowled by Somerset's Aussie all-rounder Shane Lee.

Heavy overnight rain delayed the start of play before lunch today.

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