Lancashire: Whatmore's showdown vow (15 Sep 1998)

15 September 1998

Whatmore's showdown vow

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Lancashire coach Dav Whatmore today lifted the pressure from his championship chasing players by declaring: "They have already done all anybody could have asked."

Lancashire go into Thursday's match against Hampshire at Old Trafford needing a win to retain any chance of the title.

But Whatmore said: "We have already achieved so much this season. We set our stall out to win 10 or 11 matches, thinking that would be enough to finish top. If it doesn't turn out like that, at least we can say we have done our best. "To win two one-day trophies and to stay in the championship race for so long has meant tremendous pressure. The lads have had to win every game in the last few weeks and they have responded so well.

"No one could have asked for more or expected more from these players."

The statistics of Lancashire's season certainly make impressive reading. They have not lost in the championship since the opening game at Sussex and have won their last five matches since the game against Leicestershire was washed out. In fact, they have lost only five matches in all types of cricket this season - two in the Benson and Hedges Cup and two in the AXA League, the last in a day/night match against Warwickshire on June 30.

Since then, they have been unbeaten in all competitions - and now one more win could, just could, clinch the treble, depending on the Surrey versus Leicestershire outcome.

England batsman Graham Thorpe could return for Surrey in Thursday's make-or-break County Championship clash with Leicestershire.

The left-hander missed the final three Tests of the summer after undergoing an operation on a back problem in July.

He was expected to sit out the rest of the season to try and ensure he would be fit for this winter's tour of Australia.

But Surrey, who are nine points behind leaders Leicestershire in the table, could press him back into action this week.

Coach Keith Medlycott said: "He's been practising for two-and-a-half weeks and he was very close to playing on Sunday.

"We appreciate that we're trying to get him fit for the Ashes tour but if he's 100 per cent fit, then why can't he play? Funnier things have happened and I'd say he's 50-50 of playing against Leicestershire."

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