Loye missing for Lancashire

Iain Sutcliffe has been drafted in to replace Mal Loye © Getty Images

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Batsman Mal Loye has been ruled out of Lancashire’s attempt to atone for their Twenty20 quarter-final defeat when they face Hampshire in Division One of the LV County Championship.

Loye has failed to shake off the back spasms that prevented him taking his place in the disappointing 12-run defeat to Middlesex on Tuesday, with Iain Sutcliffe being named as his replacement for the fixture at the Rose Bowl.

All-rounder Andrew Flintoff has once again been named in Lancashire’s squad and is pushing hard for an England recall after scoring half-centuries in both the Middlesex defeat and the County Championship win over Sussex last week.

Hampshire will again be without an overseas player after failing to find a replacement for New Zealand paceman Shane Bond.

Pakistan paceman Sohail Tanvir’s move to the south coast was scuppered by the PCB, and with Australian Ian Harvey only being signed to feature in the Twenty20 Cup it leaves Hampshire without a recognised signing for the second four-day game in succession.

Kolpak signing Nantie Hayward also misses out after being ruled out for up to four weeks with a side strain picked up in the Championship game against leaders Nottinghamshire last week.