LEIGH’S Karl Brown is set to make his first LV County Championship appearance of the season this morning when Lancashire begin their four-day Division One match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

The inclusion of Brown and 21-year-old fast bowler Steven Cheetham in the 12-man squad has been prompted by England commitments and injuries, depriving Glen Chapple’s team of five players.

Jimmy Anderson and Andrew Flintoff are playing for England against Warwickshire in the Ashes warm-up match, and Sajid Mahmood is hoping to press his own claims for a Test place when he plays for England Lions against Australia at Worcester. Both games begin tomorrow.

Tom Smith is still suffering with a side strain and Francois du Plessis is ruled out with a calf tear, although the South African hopes to be available for the FP Trophy semi-final against Hampshire at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Nor is Lancashire’s task in taking on the side many regard as favourites for the title made any easier by the fact that Ryan Sidebottom is not required for either of England’s games this week, and so can turn out for Notinghamshire on a ground which often favours swing bowling.

Lancashire go into the Trent Bridge game having lost their last two Division One matches and a form record of WDWDLL may not foster too much optimism among supporters travelling down to the East Midlands.

Chapple’s men have the lowest number of batting bonus points in the top division, a fact few who saw their last day capitulation to Hampshire at Aigburth would find difficult to believe.

Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, have won three of their five matches and are just 12 points behind leaders Durham.

Lancashire squad v Nottinghamshire: Chapple, Brown, Cheetham, Chilton, Croft, Hogg, Horton, Keedy, Laxman, Loye, Newby, Sutton,