Cricket: end of the line for Hegg
Warren Hegg's 20-year career was prematurely ended yesterday when a ball from James Anderson cracked a bone at the base of his left thumb and ruled him out of the final championship game against Leicestershire.
Hegg, due to retire in a fortnight's time, needed six more victims to equal George Duckworth's long-standing Lancashire record of 925 victims.
"It was ironic," said Hegg, "because it was a dead ball after Jimmy Anderson bowled [James] Middlebrook. As soon as I'd done it I knew it was bad, but I can't really complain after the career I've had. I've been virtually injury free, so it's a cruel blow and I desperately wanted to play my last game at Old Trafford."
However, on the day Lancashire lost a veteran wicketkeeper they found a new wicket-taker. The India left-arm spinner, Murali Kartik, who had played for Ramsbottom in the Lancashire League, was signed only on Thursday because Gary Keedy is still indisposed by a hand injury and Marcus North has left to join Australia A.
Kartik, 29 tomorrow, has 24 wickets in eight Tests, including 12 in two against Australia, and featured in the recent triangular tournament in Zimbabwe. He made an immediate impact here with five for 93 in 23.4 overs.
But first Anderson removed Will Jefferson lbw, then squared-up and Grant Flower next ball to grasp a brilliant sprawling catch one-handed off a leading edge.
before Glenn Chapple pinned Ravi Bopara lbw. Then Kartik took centre stage, even though Alastair Cook demonstrated why he is highly regarded with a punchy 64. Middlebrook and Andre Adams relieved the pressure with 86 in 25 overs, before Anderson bowled Middlebrook with the superb ball that injured Hegg.
Iain Sutcliffe made a 75-ball half-century as Danish Kaneria and Adams shared four wickets in Lancashire's moderate reply.