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Lancashire breathed a sigh of relief at Bristol today as they learned that captain John Crawley had not broken his thumb.

Crawley was forced off during Monday's National League victory at Leicester after dropping a sharp low chance at cover, and there were fears that he could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

But X-rays revealed no crack, just bruising, and Crawley was even hoping to play in the Championship game against Gloucestershire which was rain-delayed today.

``It's improving all the time,'' said Crawley, who has not missed a game all season.

Warren Hegg was on stand-by to captain Lancashire for the first time with Neil Fairbrother, who took over at Leicester, at Buckingham Palace for the official World Cup reception with the Queen.

But Lancashire were given permission by the English Cricket Board to use a substitute until Andy Flintoff arrived in Bristol, where it was raining this morning, following his dash from the Palace. With Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan making his long-awaited debut, Lancashire were set to field their strongest team of the season as they aim for a second successive Championship victory to climb out of the bottom three.

Glen Chapple was missing again with his side strain, so young seamers Richard Green and Paul Ridgway were called into the squad, along with leg-spinner Chris Schofield - who took four wickets in each innings of the corresponding fixture last season at Old Trafford, when Lancashire won by an innings and 35 runs on a dry, dusty pitch.

Gloucestershire have also been struggling this season, despite signing Derbyshire veteran Kim Barnett and Australian all-rounder Ian Harvey to replace Courtney Walsh, so the game was crucial to both teams' hopes of qualifying for the First Division next year.