EARBY have denied they are considering ending the contract of professional Steven Crook who was again called up for Lancashire and missed two games at the weekend.

A spokesman for the club said that was never in prospect.

The committee met this week and captain Chris Walton underlined what a positive influence the Australian with an English passport was in the dressing room.

The club is more disappointed with Lancashire, who pulled Crook out of Earby's weekend's Ribblesdale League fixtures on Friday evening, giving them no time to fix up a replacement professional.

They are to write to Lancashire asking if the county would be able to notify the club as soon as possible.

As it was Crook was left on the sidelines as Lancashire went down to Scotland.

Earby were unable to fix up a pro for their match at Oswaldtwistle on Saturday.

The previous week Crook lined up alongside ex-Applegarth bowler Glen Chapple in Lancashire's win over Hampshire and Crook found a replacement for himself from the county squad.

He tried to do the same for this weekend but, with such little notice and all leagues playing a "double header" for the Bank Holiday, his efforts were fruitless.

The spokesman quipped that at least there were two plus points from the episode.

Firstly it proved that the club had secured the services of a very good cricketer and secondly it meant that they probably had contact numbers for more agents than any other club!

Crook is available this weekend for the trip to Edenfield.