Worry for Jimmy ahead of Tests
CHRIS OSTICK ENGLAND Test star Jimmy Anderson has suffered an injury worry ahead of the Test series against South Africa.
The country’s leading Test wicket taker pulled up sharply during his run up while playing for Lancashire against Yorkshire in the Specsavers County Championship at Emirates Old Trafford on Friday morning.
Anderson immediately fell to the ground holding his groin, and was looked at by the Lancashire physio. He then walked off the field.
He didn’t take part in the rest of the day’s play, and is unlikely to return to the field during the match. He spent the afternoon icing the injury and will be re-assessed on Saturday morning.
“Jimmy has a tight groin, he felt a sharp pain and came off,” said Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple. “He has had ice on it all afternoon and it will be assessed again in the morning.
“Fingers crossed he won’t be feeling it, but we will have to wait and see.
“If he is still feeling it tomorrow, he will probably need a scan.
“You are not going to risk anything with Jimmy. We have to respect what he has coming up, he is not someone like me who you can just push out there! We will take every precaution.
“The Test series is seven weeks away so we are clear what we have to do with him.”
The 34-year-old missed most of last winter with a shoulder problem, but has played in two of Lancashire’s previous three Championship matches this season as well as all eight of their Royal London One-Day Cup group games.
He was in his sixth over of the morning, having bowled beautifully, taking the wicket of Alex Lees and having conceded just five runs.
England don’t return to Test action until the start of July, when they face South Africa on July 6. ●● Bacup’s Tim Farragher scored 75 against Great Harwood FOSTERS LANCASHIRE LEAGUE CRICKET SHELDAN KEAY
BACUP Cricket Cup picked up their first win of the season on Saturday after securing an impressive five-wicket win against Great Harwood.
The match at Lanehead was reduced to 22 overs per side due to the poor weather, with Bacup winning the toss and choosing to field.
Hamim Miah top scored for the visitors with 49 from just 18 balls, while professional Ashen Silva and Paul Houldsworth also chipped in with 22 apiece as Great Harwood finished on 143-7 at the end of their innings.
Bacup got off to a rapid start in response, as opener Tim Farragher hit a number of boundaries on his way to posting a score of 75 from just 48 balls.
Professional Ernest Kemm made 37 alongside him, but there were a few nervy moments as Bacup soon went from 112-0 to 115-3.
The home side lost a couple more wickets but they were able to reach the target with relative ease, finishing on 145-5 with seven overs to spare.
Bacup are up to 14th place after the win, while Great Harwood are now in joint-seventh place.
RAWTENSTALL’s poor start to the campaign continued as they came up short in their away match against Rishton after suffering an eight-wicket defeat at Blackburn Road.
The toss was won by Rishton who decided to field first in a game which was reduced to 27 over per side, with Rawtenstall struggling to make any real impact with the bat.
Rizwan Shafiq hit an unbeaten half century for the visitors, but only two of his other teammates managed to reach double figures, as professional Andrew Payne scored 21 and Paul Collis made 13.
The remaining seven batsmen to take to the crease could make just 11 runs between them, as Rawtenstall ended their innings on 108-8.
Rishton professional Shaun von Berg opened his side’s innings in style, going on to score 71 not out from just 46 games.
It meant his side reached a score of 106-2 with just under 10 overs to spare, picking up the win and condemning Rawtenstall to defeat.
Rawtenstall stay bottom of the Lancashire League having lost four and had one no result in their five games so far, while Rishton are in 11th place.
RAMSBOTTOM’s clash with Nelson at Acre Bottom fell victim to the weather as the match finished in a no result.
The game was initially reduced to 20 over per side and got underway with Nelson put into bat first, who finished on 114-8 at the end of their innings after David Crotty top scored with 35.
Ramsbottom didn’t get much of a chance to chase down the target though, as the match was abandoned just two over into their innings while they were 11-1.
Ramsbottom are joint 14th after the result, with just one win so far this season, while Nelson are one place above them in 13th.
HASLINGDEN’s fixture fell to the same fate as well, as their game against Burnley at Turf Moor also finished in a no result.
Burnley won the toss and decided to field, with Haslingden’s innings ending after just 22 overs when they finished on 129-7.
David Keegan had top scored for Haslingden with an unbeaten 32, while Alex Coleman and professional Nick Benton each scored 24.
Burnley were not able to bat themselves, with the match rained off and neither side able to get the win.
Haslingden are sitting in sixth after the game, while Burnley are one place below them in jointseventh.
Elsewhere in the Lancashire League, Accrington suffered defeat after they