YOUNG guns Richard Green and Andrew Flintoff have handed Lancashire a selection headache - before the season has even started!

Both produced impressive performances at the weekend as Lancashire drew their three-day friendly against Yorkshire and won a 40-over game yesterday.

And Green was on the mark again today when he took the first three Yorkshire wickets in a one-day friendly under Benson and Hedges rules at Old Trafford.

The medium pacer bowled opener Craig White for 18 and then caught and bowled David Byas for five before Michael Vaughan became his third victim, also bowled, with the score on 52.

With part-time bowlers Steve Titchard and Graeme Lloyd chipping in with the wickets of Richard Kettleborough and Alex Morris respectively, the White Rose men were in desperate trouble at 61 for five in the 27th over.

And when Darren Gough fell for just three, lbw to the medium pace of Titchard at the score of 67, there looked no way back for the Tykes.

That will make it tough for Lancashire when their four England triallists return, as well as Neil Fairbrother, for the serious business - their defence of the Benson and Hedges Cup, which starts at Old Trafford on Friday. Green followed his superb six wicket effort in the three-day game, which included four wickets in four overs on Saturday afternoon, by taking two for 15 in six overs yesterday - including Yorkshire skipper David Byas for the second time.

And Flintoff, currently prevented from bowling by his mystery back injury, staked his claim for selection purely as a batsman with a classy 64-ball half century, the only one of the match.

Lancashire had done well to restrict Yorkshire to 152 for nine in their 40 overs, with three wickets for Peter Martin on his first appearance of the season, and off spinner Gary Yates the pick of the attack with two for 22 in eight overs, including Australian dangerman Michael Bevan bowled for 29.

But they were in trouble at 41 for three on a tricky Old Trafford pitch after losing Steve Titchard, Mike Atherton and Nick Speak to Yorkshire seamers Peter Hartley and Matthew Hoggard before Flintoff linked up first with Graham Lloyd, then Steve Elworthy, to guide them home by five wickets.

Elworthy may be used as a "pinch-hitter" under the new B&H 15-over fielding restrictions today.

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