Injury robs Procter of first-team debut

LUKE PROCTER

Cricket by KEITH McHUGH

LUKE PROCTER was cruelly robbed of an LV=County Championship debut for Lancashire.

The 21-year-old Royton CC professional pulled a calf muscle during the warm-up for Lancashire’s four-day match against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

He had driven to Southampton last week after a late call-up from the second team.

Procter, who has been patiently waiting for his first-team chance following a string of solid performances for the county’s second XI, is hoping to defy medical opinion by returning to cricket within a fortnight.

Procter would have missed Royton’s home game against Rochdale last Saturday in order to play for Lancashire on the South Coast so the Paddock outfit were able to make an early move to secure the services of Zimbabwean Sikander Butt.

Sikander played with success for Middleton earlier in the season, but scored only five and was wicketless for Royton as they succumbed by nine wickets to Rochdale.

All-rounder Procter has not ruled out being fit to play merely as a batsman on Saturday, when Royton go to Walsden in the Lake Garage CLL, but any appearance is subject to approval by his employers at Old Trafford.

As for Procter’s hopes of breaking into the Lancashire first team is concerned, this annoying injury is likely to delay his chances until the end of this month as the county will demand he is fit enough to last a four-day game.

Lancashire’s final four-day Champion-ship fixture of the season is against Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford, starting on Monday, September 13.