LANCASHIRE today handed a shock first team debut to Paddy McKeown today in place of England captain Mike Atherton.

McKeown came in for the championship game against Somerset at Old Trafford with both Atherton and Peter Martin rested and Nick Speak joining John Crawley on the injured list. The 20-year-old Liverpudlian has been in prolific form for the second team this season and was preferred to Nathan Wood, who made his debut in the recent game against Essex.

But Lancashire opened the batting with Steve Titchard and Jason Gallian, returning to the side for the first time since breaking his finger at Trent Bridge a month ago, when Mike Watkinson won the toss and chose to bat.

Gallian was caught behind by Robert Turner off the bowling of Jeremy Batty for 14 with the score on 29.

Lancashire sprung another surprise by promoting South African all-rounder Steve Elworthy to number three. He and Titchard brought up the 50 in the 25th over.

But in the 27th over Batty struck again, bowling Elworthy with an arm-ball to leave Lancashire on 55 for two.

Neil Fairbrother came in to join Titchard, who had ground slowly to 35 and got off the mark with two boundaries to third-man off Australian Shane Lee, reaching 26 with the score on 95. Meanwhile, David Lloyd returned to Old Trafford with a massive boost from TCCB chairman Dennis Silk.

Lloyd, who watched the start of Lancashire's championship game against Somerset, was praised for his contribution to England since taking over as coach in the spring.

"We seemed to have lost all confidence in the winter so what we have seen this season has been tremendously welcome," said Silk.

"There is more confidence, more of the right sort of aggression, a more businesslike attitude and a more positive approach.

"David Lloyd's bubbling personality and Ray Illingworth's shrewdness make a very good combination in my opinion. There is a new feeling in the side, you can see that simply by watching them.

"David has introduced a strong measure of patriotism, there is a real pride."

Lloyd was initially appointed only for the summer series against India and Pakistan but he is set to retain his job for the winter tours of Zimbabwe and New Zealand before next year's big test against Australia.

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