Carl Crowe leaves Lancashire after two seasons as assistant coach

Carl Crowe, Lancashire's assistant coach, has left the club by mutual consent on the eve of the 2024 county season, in order to pursue new coaching opportunities. He is replaced on the staff by Will Porterfield, who has joined with immediate effect after leaving Gloucestershire.

Crowe, 48, played 83 professional games between 1995 and 2009, and worked as a consultant coach with Lancashire's spinners for the 2020 and 2021 seasons before taking up the assistant role on a full-time basis in late 2021.

Previously he had built his reputation on the T20 franchise circuit, including through his extensive work with Sunil Narine.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Emirates Old Trafford, but I have decided the time is right in my coaching career to now move on and seek some exciting new opportunities," Crowe said. .

"It was a pleasure to work for the Red Rose and I am sure that there are successful times ahead for this group. I would like to wish Dale [Benkenstein], Keaton [Jennings], the players and our Members and supporters all the very best for the future."

Lancashire's director of cricket performance, Mark Chilton, added: "Carl has made the decision to pursue new opportunities in his coaching career and we fully respect his decision to do so. I would like to thank him for all his hard work since joining us permanently in 2021 and wish him the best of luck with what is to come.

"The club has enjoyed a really strong and productive relationship with Carl during the past few years and we would certainly be open to working together again in the future in some way, should the right opportunity present itself.

"The wheels are already in motion to make a new addition to the coaching staff and we will be making an announcement about this in due course."

Porterfield, the former Ireland captain who played for Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, has moved to Old Trafford in order to link up with Benkenstein once again. Porterfield moved into coaching in 2022 after retiring as a player, spending two seasons under Benkenstein on the staff at Bristol.

"I'm really pleased that Will has been able to join me at Emirates Old Trafford ahead of the new season and look forward to continuing our working relationship," Benkenstein said. "Will and I worked together for two years in Bristol and I think that he will add real skill and experience to our coaching staff here at Lancashire, both from his playing days and first steps into coaching.

"With Will and Craig White alongside me, I am really pleased to have my coaching team finalised as we head off on pre-season tour this week before the season gets underway in April.

"Finally, I would also like to thank Carl Crowe for all of his efforts during our brief time working together here at Lancashire and I wish him all the best with his next steps."