Lancs rocked by double decision

8:39pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

Lancashire batsman Steven Croft has admitted that the immediate retirement of Iain Sutcliffe and the club’s decision to release Dominic Cork at the end of the summer has shocked the squad.

But he is confident that both issues will be firmly forgotten about before the crucial County Championship match against Kent at Canterbury.

Despite three successive home draws against Hampshire, Sussex and Yorkshire, all games which they could have lost, the Red Rose are still firmly in the hunt to claim the LV Division One title.

They are 14 points behind leaders Nottinghamshire, with a game in hand, and 13 points behind second placed Durham on level games.

And Lancashire could even go top of the pile with a maximum points win, something they have not done this season, and third placed Somerset claim less than eleven points against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

"It has affected the lads a little, but we have a good unity," said Croft. "We all supported Iain and his decision, and wish him well. With Dominic, hopefully he can finish off strongly with us.

Du Plessis plays his provincial cricket with the Nashua Titans, and he said: “If we are going for the title in our last game, I will definitely play in it.”

Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson has recalled Mal Loye and Mark Chilton in place of Sutcliffe and Lou Vincent, who has been dropped.

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