Fined Gallian looks certain to quit Old Trafford (30 Aug 1997)

30 August 1997

Fined Gallian looks certain to quit Old Trafford

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

LANCASHIRE could be looking for two new opening batsmen next summer.

Jason Gallian, who was yesterday fined £250 for knocking down his stumps on Thursday evening, is virtually certain to leave the club after failing to agree a new contract.

And Mike Atherton's decision to stay on as England captain means that he will again spend most of the summer on international duty.

This year Atherton has only played seven championship matches and next year promises to be just as busy with six Tests and a triangular one-day series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Atherton and Gallian have been Lancashire's regular opening pair since 1994, when Australian-born Gallian returned from Oxford University after completing his qualification period.

Nathan Wood has been groomed as a potential successor this season while Steve Titchard, currently out with a broken thumb, has proved a reliable deputy in the past.

But it will still be a major blow to Lancashire to lose Gallian, a key member of their line-up in both championship and one-day cricket with his extra ability to bowl handy medium pace.

He apologised both to the umpires and Yorkshire captain David Byas for Thursday's incident, a clear example of the pressure he has been under. But Lancashire still fined him while he could face further punishment from Lord's.

At Old Trafford today Lancashire were aiming to end the championship hopes of Roses rivals Yorkshire. They had looked set to follow on for the second consecutive match when they slipped to 222-8 with some poor batting immediately after lunch.

But Warren Hegg and Richard Green, saved the day with an unbroken nine wicket stand of 55, allowing Mike Watkinson to declare 142 behind after Hegg had reached his fourth half century of the season.

Yorkshire then raced to 176-5 in just 20 overs, with Anthony McGrath smashing 76 off 51 balls and the wickets shared between Watkinson and Gary Yates.

Lancashire were looking for an early declaration today with the pressure on Yorkshire to force a result.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)