MICHAEL Bevan and Stuart Law had mixed emotions as they met up at Heathrow Airport for the flight home to Australia last night.

Law set up Essex's semi-final victory over Surrey at The Oval with a 38-ball half century.

But Bevan's 85, the highest score of the Roses semi at Old Trafford, wasn't enough to get Yorkshire to Lord's.

After he was caught on the boundary by Glen Chapple off Ian Austin, Bevan trudged off to a standing ovation, changed, and before the end of the game he was heading for the Hough End playing fields in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, where a helicopter was waiting to fly him to London. Straight-talking Yorkshire skipper David Byas dismissed as "absolute nonsense" suggestions that the flight had distracted Bevan from the job in hand, or that he should have gone in earlier to ensure that he didn't have to retire in mid-innings.

Both Bevan and Law were required home by the Australian Cricket Board for a training camp for the squad selected for a four-nation limited overs tournament in Sri Lanka later this month.

Now the question is whether Law will be able to return to play for Essex against Lancashire in the final.

There is a chance that Australia will not go to Sri Lanka because of the continuing security problems, in which case Law would definitely be available. But even if the Aussies do go, and reach the final, he may be released by the ACB to fly back for Lord's.

Lancashire are well aware of Law's brilliance after he slammed a superb century against them in the Championship clash at Chelmsford in June. And Law's accurate medium pace was the key to Essex's victory over them in the Sunday League.

Essex also include Bolton-born all-rounder Ronnie Irani and the Lancashire players were cheering him on as he hit the winning runs against Surrey.

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