Workington will miss out on their Sri Lankan professional Sangeeth Cooray following his call-up to his country’s A team.

Cooray was selected for a short tour of India at the end of this month but had anticipated flying over in June to take up his bat at the Valentine Ground.

That will not happen now and Workington are trying to establish how they stand with the Cumbria Cricket League as efforts to find stand-in professionals each Saturday are usually doomed.

Skipper Rob Lambert says: “It’s unfortunate what’s happened but it really is hard to find players who are prepared to travel to West Cumbria for a one-off commitment. Most leagues play on a Saturday so we are really limited to the Lancashire League who play on a Sunday.

“When we hear the league’s view on the situation we will discuss it at committee and see what’s going to be best to take the club forward.”

The added bonus of having a professional is the coaching for the club’s juniors and the work done in the community at schools.

Workington have just experienced their worst weekend of the season – hammered at Furness and then dumped out of the County Cup by Penrith – so they don’t want a repeat as they face a double-header again, hosting Cockermouth in the league tomorrow and then travelling to Cleator on Monday in the quarter final of the Higson Cup.

Lambert says: “The problem we have at the moment is availabilities. We will be strong against Cockermouth but have to make changes for Monday. When we won the treble in 2016 I think we had 13 players who were available every week. It makes a big difference and that appears to be what Furness have at the moment.”

The League is developing into a two horse race between Furness and Carlisle with the south Cumbrians still 100% while the city side would almost have certainly equalled that record but for a rain-off against Keswick when they were in a strong position.

Both have interesting games tomorrow with Furness making the short trip to Dalton and Carlisle hosting their neighbours Wiigton.

At the moment Dalton are closest to the big two, nine points behind Carlisle and 15 in arrears of tomorrow’s opponents.

Although they suffered their second defeat of the season in a low-scoring game at Wigton last week, they have a useful professional in Lasith Waduge and will be extra keen to end their visitors’ unbeaten record.

Carlisle have a well-balanced side and the arrival of Mike Slack as professional has proved a successful and smooth transition from their recent overseas recruits.

Slack, of course, will be facing Wigton for the first time since he left Lowmoor Road to join Carlisle which adds an extra bit of spice to a derby clash.

Wigton won their first game of the season but have not been successful since, and only have winless Egremont below them. Tomorrow Egremont host Cleator at Gillfoot.

Keswick’s season has taken off at last, boosted by the return of popular professional Geeth Kumara and tomorrow they will be looking to continue their progress at home to Lindal Moor.

Whitehaven, too, will feel they are on the move after a very good win over third in the table Dalton. They will travel to Millom with more confidence.

The four Higson Cup quarter finals on Monday are: Cleator v Workington; Egremont v Whitehaven; Keswick v Carlisle; Millom v Furness.