Hooper hands over captaincy in final

MANCHESTER: Lancashire’s captain Warren Hegg is set to return to competitive cricket in today’s Twenty20 Cup “Finals Day”, taking over from former West Indies batsman Carl Hooper, who led the side in recent weeks, while Hegg was out with injury. Lancashire have named a 15-man squad travelling to Edgbaston for the assignment and Hegg is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring strain, picked up in the Twenty20 Cup tie at Headingley.

But prolific Australian batsman Stuart Law is out with injury. Temporary overseas player Dinesh Mongia, of India, has agreed to extend his stay and is in the squad. Lancashire welcome back England duo Andrew Flintoff and James Anderson, specially released to play by England, but injury means that Mal Loye misses out as does veteran seam bowler Peter Martin. Lancashire are involved in the first semi-final at 11.30 when they face favourites, and defending champions Surrey, who have never lost a Twenty20 Cup match.

Squad: Warren Hegg (captain), Andrew Flintoff, Steven Crook, Iain Sutcliffe, Carl Hooper, Dinesh Mongia, Mark Chilton, Chris Schofield, Glen Chapple, Dominic Cork, Jamie Haynes, Sajid Mahmood, Kyle Hogg, James Anderson, Gary Keedy. (CMC)