Chapple seeks successful blend
ESPNcricinfo previews Lancashire's prospects for the 2017 season
David Hopps
31-Mar-2017
Shivnarine Chanderpaul has signed up for another season on the county circuit with Lancashire • WICB
Last season:
Championship: 7th Div 1; NatWest Blast: 5th North Group; Royal London Cup: 9th North Group
In: Dane Vilas (Kolpak), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Kolpak), Brooke Guest
Out: Tom Smith (retired), Nathan Buck (Northamptonshire), Gareth Griffiths (Leicestershire), Luis Reece (Derbyshire), George Edwards, Alviro Petersen (both released)
Overseas: Ryan McLaren (SA), Junaid Khan (Pak, T20)
Championship: 7th Div 1; NatWest Blast: 5th North Group; Royal London Cup: 9th North Group
In: Dane Vilas (Kolpak), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Kolpak), Brooke Guest
Out: Tom Smith (retired), Nathan Buck (Northamptonshire), Gareth Griffiths (Leicestershire), Luis Reece (Derbyshire), George Edwards, Alviro Petersen (both released)
Overseas: Ryan McLaren (SA), Junaid Khan (Pak, T20)
2016 in a nutshell
Since they pulled off a wholly unexpected Championship triumph in 2011, Lancashire's two subsequent seasons in Division One had ended in relegation. At the last in 2016, they avoided an unwanted hat-trick, but after leading the table by winning three of their first five matches, they failed to win again and ultimately only made sure of their first division status on the final day. Once Neil Wagner departed for New Zealand duty and James Anderson did likewise with England, they looked pedestrian, apart from Kyle Jarvis who bowled quickly at times as he took 51 wickets. At least there was satisfaction in the emergence of Haseeb Hameed and Liam Livingstone, as unalike in their approach as any batsmen in the country, but both brimful of promise. Lancashire's limited-overs cricket was disappointing. Fancied to make a strong challenge in the Blast, they failed to qualify, and once again their 50-overs cricket was desultory as they finished bottom of the group.
Since they pulled off a wholly unexpected Championship triumph in 2011, Lancashire's two subsequent seasons in Division One had ended in relegation. At the last in 2016, they avoided an unwanted hat-trick, but after leading the table by winning three of their first five matches, they failed to win again and ultimately only made sure of their first division status on the final day. Once Neil Wagner departed for New Zealand duty and James Anderson did likewise with England, they looked pedestrian, apart from Kyle Jarvis who bowled quickly at times as he took 51 wickets. At least there was satisfaction in the emergence of Haseeb Hameed and Liam Livingstone, as unalike in their approach as any batsmen in the country, but both brimful of promise. Lancashire's limited-overs cricket was disappointing. Fancied to make a strong challenge in the Blast, they failed to qualify, and once again their 50-overs cricket was desultory as they finished bottom of the group.
2017 prospects
Lancashire are another county to have gone down the Kolpak route over the winter, adding the old barnacle himself, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Dane Vilas, an attacking wicketkeeper-batsman to their squad. Chanderpaul is still grinding out hundreds for Guyana, at 42, and Vilas' first-class average is close to 40, although he lacks the batting pedigree of two recent South Africans at Lancashire, Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince. Ryan McLaren, 34 and another South Africa international, moves from Hampshire as a serviceable but hardly exciting overseas signing. It all feels like an attempt to shore up a Division One spot rather than an assault on the title, as well as lift performance levels in the Royal London Cup where the effects of a thin squad are often most felt. The spin of Arron Lilley and Stephen Parry, perhaps enhanced this season by Livingstone's mix of offspin and legspin, should again serve them well in T20. Lancashire's academy has been productive of late, with Rob Jones and Saqib Mahmood also worthy of mention, and Glen Chapple, the head coach, contends that opportunities for all are inevitable, but it remains to be seen if they can create a successful blend.
Lancashire are another county to have gone down the Kolpak route over the winter, adding the old barnacle himself, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Dane Vilas, an attacking wicketkeeper-batsman to their squad. Chanderpaul is still grinding out hundreds for Guyana, at 42, and Vilas' first-class average is close to 40, although he lacks the batting pedigree of two recent South Africans at Lancashire, Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince. Ryan McLaren, 34 and another South Africa international, moves from Hampshire as a serviceable but hardly exciting overseas signing. It all feels like an attempt to shore up a Division One spot rather than an assault on the title, as well as lift performance levels in the Royal London Cup where the effects of a thin squad are often most felt. The spin of Arron Lilley and Stephen Parry, perhaps enhanced this season by Livingstone's mix of offspin and legspin, should again serve them well in T20. Lancashire's academy has been productive of late, with Rob Jones and Saqib Mahmood also worthy of mention, and Glen Chapple, the head coach, contends that opportunities for all are inevitable, but it remains to be seen if they can create a successful blend.
In charge
Ashley Giles has returned to Warwickshire, his first love, and in his place Lancashire have appointed two of their own. Chapple and his assistant Mark Chilton both had many years of service to the Red Rose, with nearly 1100 appearances between them. In an age of overseas coaches, to appoint from within, remarked Lancashire's chairman Michael Cairns, would "create a model of aspiration for the wider club, especially the younger players coming through".
Ashley Giles has returned to Warwickshire, his first love, and in his place Lancashire have appointed two of their own. Chapple and his assistant Mark Chilton both had many years of service to the Red Rose, with nearly 1100 appearances between them. In an age of overseas coaches, to appoint from within, remarked Lancashire's chairman Michael Cairns, would "create a model of aspiration for the wider club, especially the younger players coming through".
Key player
Livingstone, who first came to prominence as a limited-overs hitter, pressed Giles into giving him an opportunity in the Championship last season and the results were impressive: 815 runs at 50.93, although he is the first to accept that much of his success came batting down at No. 7. A rewarding England Lions tour of Sri Lanka has smoothed away a few more rough edges and Lancashire will be eager to see proof of that in all three forms of the game from a batsman whose impressive power can turn a game in a trice. Lions coach Andy Flower, not a man giving to exaggeration, says he has seen few people strike the ball harder.
Livingstone, who first came to prominence as a limited-overs hitter, pressed Giles into giving him an opportunity in the Championship last season and the results were impressive: 815 runs at 50.93, although he is the first to accept that much of his success came batting down at No. 7. A rewarding England Lions tour of Sri Lanka has smoothed away a few more rough edges and Lancashire will be eager to see proof of that in all three forms of the game from a batsman whose impressive power can turn a game in a trice. Lions coach Andy Flower, not a man giving to exaggeration, says he has seen few people strike the ball harder.
Bright young thing
Mahmood, a former England U-19 fast bowler, has appeared in this section before, and with several attempts to strengthen their fast-bowling stocks from outside the county coming to naught, Lancashire's need for him to impress is now more pressing. Mahmood bowls with good pace and a low, whippy action and made his Championship debut on a flat pitch against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl last August. He also joined England's Pace Performance squad in South Africa in the winter and featured in the recent North v South series.
Mahmood, a former England U-19 fast bowler, has appeared in this section before, and with several attempts to strengthen their fast-bowling stocks from outside the county coming to naught, Lancashire's need for him to impress is now more pressing. Mahmood bowls with good pace and a low, whippy action and made his Championship debut on a flat pitch against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl last August. He also joined England's Pace Performance squad in South Africa in the winter and featured in the recent North v South series.
ESPNcricinfo verdict
Lancashire were tipped for relegation by some when they won the Championship in 2011 so assessing their chances is not always a simple task, but they do not immediately have the look of trophy winners. Survival in Division One will not be straightforward unless they get another early-season flyer when Anderson is around.
Lancashire were tipped for relegation by some when they won the Championship in 2011 so assessing their chances is not always a simple task, but they do not immediately have the look of trophy winners. Survival in Division One will not be straightforward unless they get another early-season flyer when Anderson is around.
Bet365 odds: Specsavers Championship, Div 2: 14-1; NatWest Blast 12-1; Royal London Cup 14-1
David Hopps is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps