Mahmood back for Lancashire

Sajid Mahmood returns to the Lancashire squad after missing last week's draw with Notts to play for the England Lions

Buy this photo

Lancashire are boosted by the return of Sajid Mahmood for their LV= County Championship game against Worcestershire at New Road.

Mahmood missed last week’s draw with Nottinghamshire as he was representing the England Lions in their match against the touring West Indies.

However, he is now back with the Red Rose county and is named in a 12-man party alongside the XI who featured against Notts.

Lancashire have yet to lose a competitive game this season and ahead of the game, skipper Glen Chapple said: “I’m happy with the way we have started the season, to be four wins and one draw in all competitions is a great effort.

“Our one-day form couldn’t be any better, three wins out of three, and in championship cricket we are one from two, including a good draw against a good side in Nottinghamshire.

“Worcestershire come into this fixture after a gutsy display against Yorkshire and are always tough to play at New Road.

“But we go there full of confidence and will be hoping to come away with a positive result.”

Andrew Flintoff and Mal Loye remain absent for Lancashire with knee and calf injuries respectively.

Worcestershire also welcome back a player from Lions duty, with opener Stephen Moore returning to their squad in place of Alexei Kervezee.

Ben Smith also comes in, with Dave Wheeldon dropping out from the side which drew with Yorkshire in a rain-affected game at Headingley last week.

Worcestershire racked up 405 for three in their only innings of the match, with Vikram Solanki (206 not out) and Moeen Ali (153) the stars of the show.

They then went on to record a third successive victory in the Friends Provident Trophy on Monday with a 10-wicket thrashing of Nottinghamshire, leaving director of cricket Steve Rhodes in good spirits.

He told ecb.co.uk: “We want to take the form from the Friends Provident Trophy and also our batting performance at Headingley, where to get 400-odd for three was a good effort.

“The one thing that I’ve pressed home to the team is whether you’re playing international cricket, Division One cricket or Division Two cricket, it’s all about doing the basics very well and keeping it simple."

Simon Jones and Kabir Ali are still on the sidelines for Worcestershire with their respective knee and hamstring injuries.