Colchester and East Essex are in danger of losing their two county cricketers - England Under-19 stars Ian Flanagan and Graham Napier.

Both left-handed opener Flanagan and exciting all-rounder Napier are adamant they want to continue playing for Colchester next summer.

But the recently-published Lord McLaurin blueprint for cricket decrees that county professionals on the fringes of the first team, such as the Essex duo, must play their club cricket at the highest available level.

And that means Flanagan and Napier may be forced to quit the Castle Park club if they fail to win promotion to the top flight of the Shepherd Neame Essex League.

Promotion-chasing Colchester, lying third before the weekend, had to win their last two games - at Brentwood on Saturday and the crunch clash at second-placed Hadleigh and Thundersley next weekend - to step up.

If they do secure Premiership cricket, Flanagan and Napier will definitely be playing their club cricket at Castle Park again next year.

If they miss out, Essex could be forced to ship them out to another club in the Essex League Premier Division or the East Anglian Premier League.

Flanagan, currently playing for England against Australia in the third Under-19 Test in Durham, said on Friday: "If there is any chance I can stay at Colchester I will jump at it. I have played all my club cricket at Castle Park and I have a lot of friends there.

"Sadly I don't think I will have any say in where I play. We'll just have to make sure Colchester win their last two games - it's do or die time!"

Napier described the options as: "Harsh, but fair. I'd rather stay in the Essex League if I can, but I don't think I'll have any choice in the matter and I'll have to play where Essex County Cricket Club send me."

However, Essex Second XI captain and coach John Childs offered the Colchester club a ray of hope.

Childs said: "Nothing has been discussed yet and all is not lost for the boys if Colchester fail to achieve promotion. We have watched these boys grow up with their clubs and we are reluctant to move them unless we have to.

"There is no way we would even consider moving any of our players if the club facilities and standard of cricket wickets were not up to scratch."

Napier was in the Essex side that beat Worcestershire by five wickets in a Second XI Championship game at Colchester which finished on Thursday.

Scores: Worcester 376-9dec and 221-9dec; Essex 326 and 275-5.

Bright prospect - Ian Flanagan in action for Colchester and East Essex at Castle Park.

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