Eastern Counties Cup champions St. David's considered his inclusion in Saturday's second-round line-up against Flatts at Lord's.

Team skipper Ken Pitcher said yesterday that the bowler had been sidelined since Cup Match by a groin pull, and that his selection would depend on how he performed at training.

"Dale hasn't been out so far, he wasn't out last night (Tuesday), but we hope he will be out tonight (Wednesday),'' said the skipper who opened the bowling with Fox in the previous round against Bailey's Bay.

"Dale has had plenty of rest after not playing at all since Cup Match, so it's possible that he could be okay for Saturday,'' added Pitcher.

Other than the doubt surrounding the fast bowler, Pitcher is confident that the east enders will be able to field a formidable team for the challenge against Flatts -- which means there will be few changes from the team that defended their title against Bailey's Bay in the drawn first round on July 18.

Both Albert Steede and James Pace have delayed their departure for the Devonshire Rec tour of England to play in Saturday's match.

Pitcher said he had heard reports that Flatts had made unsuccessful attempts to include Rec. fast bowler Anthony (Pacer) Edwards in their team.

"Edwards is a pretty capable bowler and would have improved their attack considerably. I don't know why he can't play but I can understand the reason they were trying to get him,'' said Pitcher.

"Flatts know that they have to bowl us out in order to win and they were obviously banking on the help of a quality bowler in Edwards.

"I'm sure they will pick the best team available to them, but I still like our chances against them regardless who they select.'' Although he does not admit it, Pitcher must be confident after his team scored so freely against Flatts a year ago, putting up 335-4 when openers Wendell Smith and Allan Richardson joined in a record-breaking stand of 232 -- Smith scoring 141 and Richardson 161.

Despite those batting heroics, however, St. David's were still unable to pull off victory. But they advanced to the following round as a result of a tame draw as Flatts replied with 129-5.

Flatts are due to pick their team tonight and it remains to be seen whether they will once again count on the pace support of Gary Brangman of Western Stars who has become a regular guest player for them since his debut in 1989.

But like most of the other bowlers he had little success a year ago, finishing with no wickets for 48 runs off 23 overs.

Two St. David's batsmen will have their sights on 1,000-run milestones on Saturday.

Opener Allen Richardson, who is in his 20th year as an Eastern Counties player, needed just 38 runs to become the second batsmen in the competition -- behind Bailey's Bay's Noel Gibbons -- to score 1,000 runs.

Richardson, following scores of 161, 55 and 23 last year, moved from eighth to second on the all-time scoring list. His 58 against Bay in the first round this year takes his total runs to 962.

Albert Steede, the season's most consistent batsman, needs just eight runs to reach 1,000 for the season, a feat he would love to accomplish before jetting off to England to join his Devonshire Rec teammates.

DALE FOX -- Inquiry could keep him out of Saturday's game.