LANCASHIRE have signed former England 'A' batsman Mal Loye from Northants, as they bid to replace the retiring Neil Fairbrother and Graham Lloyd.

The 30-year-old has more than 8000 runs in first-class cricket with an average of 37.77.

Cricket manager Mike Watkinson, who is set to sign a new deal which will keep him at Old Trafford until the end of the 2005 season, said: "Mal will add some quality to the top of our order as we look to build on the progress of last season."