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Mike Atherton was set to hit the comeback trail again at Old Trafford today.

The former England captain returned to the Lancashire squad for their four-day first class match against Sri Lanka A.

Atherton's previous attempt to prove hiss recovery from the back problems which ruled him out of the World Cup stalled after one game, with hi back stiffening up again after the Championship match against Surrey at the Oval last month.

But after another three week's treatment, the specialist gave him the all-clear again on Tuesday.

Lancashire took the chance to rest Peter Martin and Warren Hegg, who both have niggling injuries, as well as Muttiah Muralitharan who was not included against his fellow Sri Lankans - several of whom have played alongside him in Test cricket.

They had an extra incentive to impress Dav Whatmore, who will leave Lancashire to take over Sri Lanka at the end of the month.

Meanwhile the second team's hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the AON Trophy crashed with a 104 run defeat by Nottinghamshire at Worksop yesterday.