Lancashire: Unlucky Wood makes way for Atherton (14 Jul 1998)

14 July 1998

Unlucky Wood makes way for Atherton

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

NATHAN Wood was the unlucky victim of a Lancashire batting reshuffle at Lytham today.

The 23-year-old, who hit 79 in Lancashire's last Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston two weeks ago, was left out of the team to face Worcestershire to make way for the return of Mike Atherton from Test duty.

John Crawley moved up to open with Atherton, with Graham Lloyd retaining his place alongside Neil Fairbrother and Andy Flintoff in the middle order.

"It's no reflection on Nathan," said coach Dav Whatmore. "It's actually a sign of the strength in depth we now have, and the competition for places in our batting line-up."

Lancashire were also keen to field a strong bowling line-up, with Mike Watkinson at number six as the only spinner and Wasim Akram sharing the pace attack with Peter Martin, Glen Chapple and Ian Austin on a Lytham pitch expected to favour the seamers.

On Lancashire's last visit, then coach David Lloyd compared the Church Road pitch to Blackpool beach, it was so sandy. And both Watkinson and Sussex leg-spinner Ian Salisbury found plenty of turn on the first three days before Wasim blasted Lancashire to victory on the last day.

Lancashire were looking for a similar result against Worcestershire to maintain their Championship challenge. But those hopes were threatened by yet more poor weather forecasts, and a Worcester seam attack well capable of exploiting helpful conditions, with promising left arm paceman Alamgir Sheriyar and former England veteran Phil Newport to share the new ball.

Worcestershire were 55-1 after 20 overs.

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