Cork poised for comeback

Dominic Cork could soon be screaming appeals again for Lancashire © Getty Images

Dominic Cork may get his first taste of cricket this summer after being named in Lancashire’s 13-man squad.

Cork has not figured since the pre-season Pro ARCH Trophy in Abu Dhabi due to a side strain, but he gains a recall with four other fast bowlers succumbing to injury.

Andrew Flintoff (side strain), Kyle Hogg (hamstring), Glen Chapple (groin) and Tom Smith (thigh) are out, while James Anderson has been named in England’s squad to play New Zealand at Lord’s.

Their absence means that Cork, Steven Croft, Sajid Mahmood and Oliver Newby, who has recovered from a side problem, could form Lancashire’s pace attack.

South African batsman Francois Du Plessis could make his championship debut after hitting 77 not out off 80 balls in Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy win over Yorkshire.

Nottinghamshire welcome back Darren Pattinson, Paul Franks and Graeme Swann.

Ryan Sidebottom, Stuart Broad and Bilal Shafayat drop out of the side that experienced Notts' first defeat of the championship against Kent at the weekend.

Sidebottom and Broad are expected to lead England’s attack against New Zealand at Lord’s, while Shafayat will keep wicket for the second XI.

Instead, Notts revert to the side that won their opening championship game at Trent Bridge, with Swann returning from England Lions duty to bolster the spin department.

Franks captained the second XI while out of the side, and he is likely to come on as first-change behind Charlie Shreck and Pattinson, who gets his first taste of championship cricket since taking 8-85 on his first-class debut for Notts.

Notts director of cricket Mick Newell said: “We have lost two of our frontline bowlers in Stuart and Ryan but we knew that it was coming and we have to get over it very quickly.

“Lancashire are a very good side and, in my eyes, potential champions even though they are missing a few key players.

“Will Jefferson and Matt Wood are starting to find their feet and we have enough ammunition throughout our batting group to get something out of the game.”