IAN Austin is out of Lancashire's floodlit clash at Hove tonight after a shock injury blow.

Austin was hurt as he and Richard Green collided in a fielding mishap during the championship game with Sussex which Lancashire lost by two wickets.

"We both went for the ball, and his studs caught me in the knee and left a cut," explained the downcast Austin who was limping badly after having the wound stitched.

Austin is also likely to miss the next round of the championship and Axa Life League games against Middlesex at Old Trafford over the rest of the week, and is a bit doubt for the Benson and Hedges Cup launch.

It is a massive blow so early in the season for a player who missed only one game in all competitions last year.

The incident came when Lancashire were battling to stop Sussex reaching a target of 260 in 87 overs. Austin was fielding in the covers, and Green was on as a sub for Neil Fairbrother who had hurt his hand earlier taking a slip catch.

Fairbrother was unlikely to take part in tonight's floodlit game, stretching Lancashire's resources to the limit.

"It's a good job we have strength in depth," said acting captain John Crawley.

Green is likely to take over from Austin, and Lancashire also have Gary Yates and Mike Watkinson in the squad. Watkinson however, is still being treated for an arm injury.

Lancashire went down by two wickets at Hove yesterday with two balls left of a dramatic final day. Declarations left Sussex with a target of 260 in 87 overs, and the aggression of Robin Martin-Jenkins (63) did the trick after Lancashire had reduced Sussex to 121-5.

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