Wasim seeks specialist advice (30 May 1997)

30 May 1997

Wasim seeks specialist advice

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

LANCASHIRE have sent Wasim Akram for urgent checks on his shoulder. The Pakistan Test star was due to see a specialist in Nottingham today after pulling out of the Championship game at Leicester yesterday morning after bowling just one ball in the nets.

It was a huge shock for Lancashire who expected Wasim to captain the side after he returned in last Sunday's Axa Life League victory over Northants at Old Trafford.

Coach Dav Whatmore said today: "It is a mystery injury and we need to get it right as quickly as possible.

"We hope Wasim will be okay for the Sunday League, but really we need him in the Championship line-up and it's vitally important that he gets the necessary treatment."

Whatmore is frustrated that Lancashire have been without Wasim and skipper Mike Watkinson for most of this season, but still don't know the exact nature of either injury. Their absence leaves Lancashire looking to their English bowlers to forge a first innings lead after a defiant batting recovery yesterday.

They were reduced to 179-6 by Leicester's left arm paceman Alan Mullally before Graham Lloyd and Warren Hegg linked up in a seventh wicket stand of 67.

Then after Lloyd was bowled for 82, taking his tally of first class runs to 489 from six innings, Hegg found more support from Glen Chapple.

Chapple had a point to prove after being told he would make way for Wasim, only to be called back into the side at the last minute.

He responded by racing to 50 from 59 balls with seven fours, before being caught by Ben Smith off Mullally today to end the innings on 373.

¥Former Lancashire captain John Abrahams has been appointed coach for England's under-19 tour of South Africa this winter, when they will also play in the Youth World Cup. Abrahams, who is still based at Old Trafford working for the National Cricket Federation, was involved in last winter's successful under-19 tour of Pakistan.

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