FORMER York Wasps coach Lee Crooks is set to make a second playing comeback having been picked for a Great Britain team to face Australia in two "Legends Tests".

The former stars will be out to relive past glories in the two matches to be played during the Ashes series in November.

It will mark a second return to action for Crooks, the first having been enforced in February when departures, injuries and suspensions decimated his Wasps squad, the then coach being compelled to play twice as a substitute, his first professional games for four years.

The Great Britain Legends side will be captained by joint-record appearance holder Garry Schofield (46 caps), who scored eight tries in 14 appearances against the old enemy and captained the home side in both their famous victory in Melbourne in June 1992 and the World Cup final defeat at Wembley four months later.

Also lining up for the British team will be Steve Hampson, Andy Gregory, Neil Holding, Martin Dermott, Karl Harrison, Mike Gregory, Bob Eccles, John Joyner and Daryl Powell.

The Aussies include former Saints star Mal Meninga, who holds the record number of appearances for the Kangaroos, as well as some other giants of the game such as Wally Lewis, Eric Grothe, Brett Kenny, Kerry Boustead, Steve Ella, Laurie Daley, Greg Dowling, Paul Sironen, John Cartwright, Steve Walters and Bob Lindner.

The matches take place at the Auto Quest Stadium, Widnes, on Sunday, November

11 and at Headingley, Leeds, on Sunday, November 18.

Meanwhile, Dewsbury Rams captain Damian Ball, a former Wasp, has joined Rochdale Hornets. Ball was a fans' favourite at Huntington Stadium.

Updated: 11:46 Wednesday, August 22, 2001