It was a bland statement that was issued from Old Trafford yesterday:

" John Crawley will not be offered the Captaincy of Lancashire County Cricket Club for the 2002 Cricket Season. The General Committee of the Club took this decision in order to allow John the opportunity to recapture the form he enjoyed prior to being appointed Captain in 1999.

The Club wishes to place on record its gratitude to John during a difficult period.

A replacement will be appointed in due course. "

There were high hopes that John Crawley would be the man to lead Lancashire back to times of former glory. When he was appointed to succeed Wasim Akram for 1999, he had just enjoyed a season where he had scored 1,681 championship runs at an average of 70.04. His career average in first-class cricket stood at over 50.

In his first year as captain, his personal tally dropped to very nearly half that of the previous year, but Lancashire finished 2nd in the table behind Surrey. It was the same story in 2000 in that Lancashire again trailed Surrey, and Crawley lifted his runs to just below the thousand. But it was a patchy season with five centuries and not much else.

Last summer he fell back to under nine hundred runs and Lancashire had an uncomfortable brush with relegation. That at a time when arch-rivals Yorkshire were winning the CricInfo Championship. It was as inevitable that changes would be made as it would be had the team at the other Old Trafford suddenly found themselves fighting relegation.

One of those changes was voluntary, with coach Bobby Simpson electing to return home to Australia. The committee then decided that, in the sentiments of chairman Jack Simmons, a change of captaincy had to be made to enable Crawley to refind his true form and to lift Lancashire out of the doldrums.

The question now revolves around who will take over. It is reported that approaches were made to Michael Hussey, the Australian who made over 2,000 championship runs for Northamptonshire. However, the Western Australian captain decided to remain with his adopted county, taking over the captaincy from David Ripley next season.

Another Australian, Stuart Law has proved consistently prolific as a batsman with Essex. He has a good track record as captain of Queensland and was rumoured to be heading for Old Trafford when he had a public falling-out with Essex. However, it appears that nothing has come of that and now a further announcement is awaited when Crawley's successor will be formally named.

The favourite appears to be Warren Hegg, the wicket-keeper recalled to England's colours this winter and who had an outstanding season with the bat, averaging 48.87. Whether captaincy, 'keeping and batting would be over-egging the pudding for the man known as "Chucky" remains to be seen if, indeed, he gets the job.

As for Crawley himself, there will be new goals at which to aim. Only just 30 years of age, a recall to the Test team is by no means out of the question. He scored three centuries in his 29 appearances for England and averaged over 30 when he made his last appearance on the 1998-99 tour to Australia. Ironically enough, if he does return to form and earn an England recall, he would not be available to provide the runs upon which his successor will be so dependent if Lancashire are once again to mount a serious challenge for the title that has eluded them for over half a century.

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