In the latest in our series of articles looking at English county cricket’s trophy winners in 2013, we look at Lancashire and their quest to build on their Division Two title success.
There is every reason for Lancashire to be confident going into 2014. Not only did they make a tough job look simple when securing LV= County Championship promotion with two matches to spare, they have also done the majority of the work with regards to forming their squad for next year.
Glen Chapple’s side finished the most recent season losing only one of their 16 four-day matches against Kent at Canterbury during the final week of the campaign last month. They won eight, including a memorable come-from-behind success against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay in early May.
Having been bowled out for 123 in their first innings, they conceded a 119-run lead before bowling the hosts out for just 139 during the evening session of day three as they pursued 154. It was the win that kick-started their promotion push.
They also entered the record books by bowling Essex out for 20 at Chelmsford in June, the best bowling performance in the club’s history.
A one-day trophy would have made it a superb season. Unfortunately for them, they fell two runs short of reaching Twenty20 Finals Day when they lost a high-scoring quarter-final against Hampshire at Southampton in early August.
And, despite winning six out of their last seven group matches, they only just failed to reach the Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-finals for the second year running.
“The goal we set was to get promoted, and we said at the start we wanted to go up as champions. We did that,” said coach Peter Moores.
“The way we did it was really pleasing. In a squad you have an experience arm, a middle arm and a young arm, and it was the young arm that really started to move quickly with Luis Reece, Al Davies, Luke Procter. There has been some real moves there which is great.
“We go into next season confident we have a very competitive squad. And it won’t be easy to pick that first team of the season. Steven Croft, for example, will be burning to get back in the side.
“It is good for players to develop in that sort of environment because it creates that push to get better. It is a strong squad in all three competitions.”
Lancashire’s success in the Championship was built around Chapple, Kyle Hogg and left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan all passing 50 wickets. Hogg led the way with 60 at 18.41 apiece.
Two batsmen, in overseas Simon Katich and Kolpak Ashwell Prince, both passed 1,000 runs, while they were ably supported by the likes of Luke Procter with 718, Luis Reece with 722 and Paul Horton 645.
The emergence of Horton and Reece, in his debut season, as a successful opening pair would have pleased captain Chapple and Moores greatly seen as it has been their problem position since they united in 2009.
The release of experienced duo Stephen Moore (opening batsman) and Gareth Cross (wicketkeeper) surprised many. Both performed well for the club, especially in 2011. But they struggled to maintain the standards expected during the last couple of years.
But the signings of former Zimbabwe Test fast bowler Kyle Jarvis, who debuted at Kent, and England one-day wicketkeeper Jos Buttler are notable acquisitions.
The county also recently tied 15 of their players to new contracts or extensions. Karl Brown, Jordan Clark, Alex Davies, Hogg, Horton, Kerrigan, Arron Lilley, Stephen Parry, Luke Procter, Reece and Tom Smith will all remain at Emirates Old Trafford for at least another two years.
Chapple, Oliver Newby and Andrea Agathangelou have also extended their contracts by a year until the end of 2014, while batting all-rounder Liam Livingstone has signed his first professional contract having been on a scholarship contract.
All that remains to be seen now is whether or not Katich returns as their overseas player.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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