Lancashire's hopes for the new season have suffered another setback with news of an injury for new captain Glen Chapple.
The pace-bowling all-rounder sustained a torn right hamstring while bowling against Yorkshire in Lancashire's Emirates Airline Pro ARCH Trophy pre-season tour in Sharjah.
He is set to receive intensive treatment to the complaint, but a hamstring tear normally represents a four to five-week lay-off.
He therefore looks set to miss the early stages of the season along with slow left-armer Gary Keedy.
Keedy fractured his hand earlier in the pre-season tournament in the United Arab Emirates and also looks certain to miss the FP Trophy opener on April 19 against Glamorgan.
Chapple finished 2008 as the county's leading Championship bowler with 42 wickets at an average of 20.50 and will be a big loss.
