Lancashire Spin Magazine Summer 2019 by Zahra Ginieres Ridge

T H E O F F I C I A L M E M B E R S ’ M AG A Z I N E O F L A N CAS H I R E C R I C K E T

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SUMMER 2019

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INCLUDED INSIDE INCLUDED INCLUDED INSIDE INSIDE INSIDE THIS THIS PROGRAMME PROGRAMME THIS PROGRAMME KATE CROSS

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JACK BOND (1932-2019)

REMEMBERING A LANCASHIRE GREAT

ROB JONES

CEMENTING A PLACE IN THE FIRST TEAM

STEVEN CROFT: THE 34 YEAR-OLD LANCASHIRE LANCASHIRE LIGHTNING’S LIGHTNING’S OFFICIAL OFFICIAL MATCHDAY MATCHDAY PROGRAMME PROGRAMME LANCASHIREON LIGHTNING’S OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME REFLECTS HIS SUMMER FORM SO FAR

04-07 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

CLUB DIRECTORY Registered Office: Lancashire Cricket Emirates Old Trafford Talbot Road Manchester M16 OPX lancashirecricket.co.uk

CONTACT INFORMATION Ticket Office 03333 202833 * 1.2p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.

tickets@lancashirecricket.co.uk Partnerships/Commercial 0161 868 6725 ecummins@lancashirecricket.co.uk Hospitality 0161 868 6810 hospitality@lancashirecricket.co.uk Lancashire Cricket Foundation 0161 868 6849 foundation@lancashirecricket.co.uk

08-09 SPIN NEWS 10-11 GLEN CHAPPLE’S REPORT 12-15 DANIEL GIDNEY’S REPORT 16-21 FEATURE INTERVIEW WITH SAQIB MAHMOOD 22-27 INTERVIEW WITH KATE CROSS 28-31 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP AT EMIRATES OLD TRAFFORD 32-37 MEMBERS’ SURVEY RESULTS AND ANALYSIS 38-41 TEAM BEHIND THE TEAM WITH MAX BACKHOUSE 42-43 MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIVE GROUP UPDATE 44-49 LANCASHIRE PLAY HISTORIC FIXTURE AT SEDBERGH SCHOOL

64-67 GEORGE BALDERSON INTERVIEW

78-79 LANCASHIRE CRICKET FOUNDATION NEWS 80-81 LANCASHIRE FIRST TEAM STATS

FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the second edition of Spin Magazine this year which will update you with everything going on at Emirates Old Trafford. We have the usual columns from the Chairman David Hodgkiss OBE, Chief Executive Daniel Gidney and Head Coach Glen Chapple on the season so far at Emirates Old Trafford on and off the field. Our main interviews are with Saqib Mahmood and Kate Cross whilst we also have features on the fixture at Sedbergh School as well as on the ICC Cricket World Cup that took place earlier in the summer. We have also included results and analysis from the Members’ Survey earlier in the year and we remember Jack Bond who very sadly passed away in July. I hope you enjoy the edition.

60-63 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? WITH STEPHEN MOORE

76-77 ALL STARS CRICKET IN LANCASHIRE

SPIN MAGAZINE Editor: James Price

56-59 REMEMBERING JACK BOND (1932-2019)

72-75 COMMERCIAL UPDATE WITH JUSTIN HOPWOOD

CLUB OFFICIALS

This programme was designed and produced on behalf of Lancashire Cricket by Ignition Sports Media. www.ignitionsportsmedia.com

54-55 SPOTLIGHT ON SARAH MCMANUS

68-71 ROB JONES INTERVIEW

Lancashire Cricket official store 0161 848 8611 onlinestore@lancashirecricket.co.uk The Board President: Sir Howard Bernstein Chairman: David Hodgkiss OBE Honorary Treasurer: Les Platts Non-Executive Members: Sara Tomkins, Geoffrey Shindler OBE, Maurice Watkins CBE, Andrew Flintoff MBE, James Sheridan Chief Executive: Daniel Gidney Head Coach: Glen Chapple Director of Cricket: Paul Allott Finance Director / Secretary: Lee Morgan Operations Director: Anthony Mundy Sales and Marketing Director: Justin Hopwood HR Director: Joanne Hunt

50-53 STEVEN CROFT INTERVIEW

James Price Spin Editor

David Hodgkiss OBE — THE CHAIRMAN —

Welcome to the latest edition of Spin Magazine which gives us an opportunity to look back at a memorable few months for Lancashire Cricket Club and Emirates Old Trafford, as well as cast our attentions to what’s ahead and the concluding part of the 2019 campaign. ack in April when the season commenced, we said that our priority was an immediate return to Division One of the Specsavers County Championship.

At the time of writing this, we are unbeaten in four-day cricket with six wins and five draws to our name and are currently top of the table. A few of those draws may have been wins if it hadn’t been for some indifferent weather earlier in the summer! We’ve been really pleased with the attitude, desire and application that the whole squad has shown in all three formats so far. The team spirit of the squad is fantastic and some of the performances have been outstanding so far this season. We’ve had a very good campaign in the Vitality Blast where we’ve qualified for the quarter-finals.

It is a format we’ve got a very healthy record in over the past decade, shown by the fact that we are ranked third in the most T20 wins globally behind Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Particularly pleasing was the team’s efforts in the Royal London One-Day Cup, which saw qualification for the semifinals for the first time since 2014. There were some outstanding performances, particularly from Saqib Mahmood and Steven Croft and beating Middlesex at the Home of Cricket in a quarter-final was a real highlight. Moving forward, Paul and Glen are starting to put a strategy in place where this Club can develop a long-term and sustainable cricket infrastructure which includes a successful Lancashire First Team side, developing young and emerging

talent in the Second XI and having the best Academy and age-group system in the country. Staying on-the-field, we have to talk about the ICC Cricket World Cup and the momentous few months we’ve seen across the country and at Emirates Old Trafford for the game we all love. England winning the World Cup was just incredible, and the Final was the most dramatic and entertaining game of cricket I have ever watched. We’re all still in a bit of a daze following the last Ashes Test at Headingley after Ben Stokes’ heroics. What an amazing performance it was and it sets up the Fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford perfectly now. Everyone at the Club is so proud that we played our part in what was a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining ICC Cricket World Cup. We held six games here and they were all such special and successful occasions for the Club. The eyes of the world, literally, for the India vs Pakistan fixture where there was an estimated global TV audience of over 1 billion, were on Emirates Old Trafford. You can’t underestimate

the amount of time and effort that has gone into the planning of the World Cup here and I’d like to congratulate, and thank, all of the staff at the Club for what has been achieved. It would not have been achieved without them. The feedback we have received from everyone at the ICC and ECB has been phenomenal. We received a letter from Steve Elworthy, the Managing Director of the Tournament, with some incredibly high praise for all the staff involved at Emirates Old Trafford and the successful delivery of some of the biggest, and most high-profile, games in the competition. I would also like to personally thank Head Groundsman Matt Merchant and his team for all their efforts throughout the tournament. They prepared some of the best wickets which produced some of the most entertaining fixtures in the whole competition. We are so lucky to have them. Earlier this summer, we took our Specsavers County Championship fixture against Durham to Sedbergh School. It was an historic occasion and one that was thoroughly enjoyed by all that

attended the game. The reaction that the Club has received via emails, letters and on social media from Members and supporters who watched the game has been really positive. We really appreciate everyone‘s support and the time and effort that you took to join us at Sedbergh and hope you enjoyed what was a thoroughly entertaining fixture. We’re aware that some Members weren’t supportive of the decision to begin with, but hopefully the end result showed what can be achieved. The Club’s Vitality Blast quarterfinal will be played at Emirates Riverside, the home of Durham Cricket, due to the Ashes being scheduled at HQ at the same time by the ECB. We had no option but to look at every possible venue, including outgrounds and playing at the away ground, but we were not willing to cede home advantage to our opponents for the quarter-final. Playing the game at Durham was a collective decision with input from Head Coach Glen Chapple, Captain Dane Vilas and Director of Cricket Paul Allott and provides us with the best possible chance

E R E H T I S

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to winning and reaching Finals Day. The Club will provide a free ticket and free coach travel to all Members (excluding Digital Members) for the fixture, as well as Vitality Blast season ticket holders. We appreciate that many of you will be attending the Ashes Test at Emirates Old Trafford and will therefore miss the quarterfinal but I know the team will really appreciate the support of those who do travel.

Last month, the Club announced that World Cup winner Jos Buttler has signed a new three-year contract with Lancashire. Whilst he may not play as much as we’d all like due to his England commitments, his influence is huge when he returns to Emirates Old Trafford. I know how much he loves playing at Emirates Old Trafford and I know the ambition of the Club matches his own which is fantastic. It was great to have Jos down for the Yorkshire Vitality Blast earlier in August where he paraded the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy too, albeit the weather didn’t play its part! Over the last six months, as you will have noticed, the Club has worked really hard to improve the facilities for the Membership at Emirates Old Trafford. At the start of the season, the Club installed new see-through sightscreens

in the Pavilion, new mid-tier LED boards on Stand B and C, two new hi-res big screens, a new 10-windowed Ticket Office and seven new water fountains around the ground. The Club is working on plans for a new stand to replace the Red Rose Suite which will have new facilities for the Membership, including a museum. This will be presented to you at the next Members Forum on Monday 16 September.

we see it as great opportunity to grow the game and get more young girls playing the game across the North West. The Lancashire Cricket Foundation are doing some brilliant work in this area, such as the soft ball cricket initiative. We’re also excited to launch and announce a special twoday Club Development Expo which will be held in The Point at Emirates Old Trafford next year. It will take place ahead of the start of the 2020 club cricket season, on Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March 2020. It will be a great opportunity for recreational cricket clubs in the region to experience a range of relevant workshops and masterclasses delivered by experienced individuals from their chosen fields. Overall, there is so much positive going on here at Emirates Old Trafford including some record Vitality Blast crowds, and there’s more we want to achieve. We want to get as many people involved in cricket in the North West and we continue to look to grow the Membership, increase ticket sales in both domestic and international cricket, as well as increase the participation levels of young people playing cricket in the region. I’d like to thank all of you as Members of Lancashire for your continued involvement over the course of the season so far. We continue to make really positive progress through many initiatives which we’ll continue to keep you informed of and communicated to you.

This year’s Kia Super League has been a frustrating one for Lancashire Thunder. Not winning a game in this year’s competition was disappointing and I hope the players will learn from the experience moving forward. We’re fully behind the growth of women’s cricket and

We all look forward to seeing you soon.

Chairman, David Hodgkiss OBE

Luke Wood joins Lancashire on long-term contract Lancashire Cricket is delighted to announce the signing of talented all-rounder Luke Wood on a three-year contract. The left-arm seam bowler and left-handed batsman will join the Club at the end of the 2019 season upon the expiry of his contract at Nottinghamshire. Luke Wood said: “I am delighted to have signed for Lancashire. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Trent Bridge and would like to thank everyone at the Club for their fantastic support, but the chance to join Lancashire is one that I couldn’t turn down. “The conversations I’ve had with both Paul Allott and Glen Chapple about the vision and plans moving forward are so exciting. The ambition of the Club is something that really attracted me to Lancashire and it’s something I want to be part of.”

Jos Buttler Signs New Three-Year Lancashire Contract The Club announced last month that Jos Buttler has signed a new three-year contract extension with Lancashire, which will see him playing at Emirates Old Trafford until at least 2022. Jos Buttler commented: “I am delighted to commit my future to Lancashire Cricket for at least the next three seasons. “I have enjoyed some fantastic times in a Lancashire shirt over the last six years and I am excited to experience more with the Club. “Emirates Old Trafford is an incredible place to play cricket and the ambition the Club is showing both on and off the pitch is something I want to be a part of in the coming years.”

Record Advance T20 Ticket Sales At Emirates Old Trafford Lancashire Cricket was last month pleased to announce an increase of 30 per cent in advance ticket sales for the 2019 Vitality Blast competition at Emirates Old Trafford. Advance ticket sales for the seven Blast matches at Emirates Old Trafford have increased from 38,448 to 50,005 year-on-year ahead of the 2019 campaign, which builds on the momentum of last summer’s similar 30 per cent

growth in attendances, illustrating the burgeoning demand for cricket in the North West. The milestone included a record domestic attendance for a non-Roses clash of 13,710 for Lancashire’s game against Durham while the Club were also expecting a new record domestic crowd (outside of London and Finals Day) for the Roses fixture earlier this month, which eventually fell foul to the weather.

Matt Parkinson And James Faulkner Awarded County Caps Matt Parkinson and James Faulkner were awarded their Lancashire caps before the washed out Roses fixture against Yorkshire Vikings at Emirates Old Trafford. The pair were presented with their caps by Chairman, David Hodgkiss OBE, in recognition of their continued contribution to the Red Rose. Leg-spinner Parkinson is enjoying another successful year and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Vitality Blast North Group with 16 wickets, despite only playing in six matches due to three abandonments. He finished as the leading wicket-taker in last year’s Royal London One-Day Cup and the 22-year-old recently became the quickest Lancashire bowler to reach 50 T20 wickets for the county, beating Faulkner by three matches to the milestone. Faulkner is Lancashire’s seventh-highest wickettaker in T20 history, with 52 scalps in 35 matches, and has added 399 runs with a best of 73 against Northants Steelbacks in 2015.

Glen

Chapple — T H E H E A D C OAC H —

Since I wrote in the last edition of Spin magazine, we have made good progress in all three competitions and put ourselves in a strong position to finish the season on a high. have been pleased by our form in the Specsavers County Championship. As I write, we remain unbeaten after 10 games going into the fixture against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay.

It was important we made a good start to our campaign and winning the first three games really set the tone for the season. The bowlers, in particular, have been in excellent form with Graham Onions and James Anderson leading with the new ball. We are fortunate to have had Jimmy around more than in previous years and his passion, skill and desire to wear the Red Rose is still as strong as ever. I know how much he’s enjoyed being with us this season. Having Saqib Mahmood, Tom Bailey and Richard Gleeson, as well as Jimmy and Graham, has enabled us to rotate the seamers and keep them fresh over the course of the red ball season. Clearly our aim at the start of the year was to get promoted back to Division One at the first opportunity and we are looking on course to achieve that.

We are not satisfied in just going up, though. The objective is to finish as high in the table as possible, with as many wins as we can get over the course of the final few weeks of the season. We won’t be taking our foot off the pedal, I can assure you of that. The Royal London One-Day Cup campaign was particularly pleasing. To get so close to a Lord’s final was disappointing but I look back on the competition with a lot of pride. That close win over Yorkshire really kicked us into life and the guys played some excellent cricket from there, holding their nerve at key times and going unbeaten from then until the final match of the North Group. The win at Lord’s over Middlesex was a memorable one but we weren’t quite at our best at Hampshire, and ultimately we fell just short against a very good side. One of the big positives from the competition was Saqib Mahmood, who followed in Matt Parkinson’s footsteps from a year ago by finishing as the tournament’s top wicket-taker. It was

his first One-Day Cup appearance since 2016 and he bowled brilliantly throughout, particularly when the pressure was on during the two knockout fixtures. Like Parky did last year, he has shown the ability to transfer that form through into the Vitality Blast and we are looking forward to see him become a central part of our bowling attack for the rest of the season. Steven Croft was also outstanding in the OneDay Cup where he was our top run scorer. We moved him up to number three and he was consistent in that position for us and a vital part of our side in the One-Day Cup. We have also played some very good cricket in the Blast so far this year and look on course to qualify for another quarter-final. I’ve been really pleased with the balance of the side and we have produced a number of clinical performances, particularly in the first half of the group stage games. Glenn Maxwell has been an outstanding addition with bat, ball and in the field while Liam Livingstone’s comeback from injury sooner than expected was also a big boost. The bowlers have executed their skills well and Parkinson has been brilliant for us again, and is currently leading wicket taker in the competition. Our challenge is now to carry the momentum through to the knockout stages and reach what would be a record eighth Finals Day. As far as overseas players go, we have two of the best this year in Glenn and James. The pair of them have been outstanding and are a real example to the younger lads in the changing room. Their will to win is second to none and both have represented the Red Rose with pride while putting in the high level of performance you would expect to see from two Australia internationals.

GLENN MAXWELL HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING ADDITION WITH BAT, BALL AND IN THE FIELD WHILE LIAM LIVINGSTONE’S COMEBACK FROM INJURY SOONER THAN EXPECTED WAS ALSO A BIG BOOST.

Thanks for your support so far this season and hope to see you soon. Kind regards,

Glen Chapple

Daniel

Gidney — THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER —

n my seven years of working at Emirates Old Trafford, I’ve never experienced a busier period for everyone at the Club, and I’ve also never been prouder to be part of the Red Rose family. The last couple of months have been incredibly special for all involved.

Starting with on-field matters for the Red Rose, it’s been great to see how the Lancashire side, led brilliantly by Dane Vilas, has gone about its business this season. As I think you’ll all agree, the amount of desire and application shown from the whole squad has been very impressive. At the time of writing, we are currently unbeaten in the Specsavers County Championship and had a great start in the Vitality Blast, and have reached the Royal London One-Day Cup semi-finals as well. I strongly believe that we’ve got the best bowling attack in

the country. To have James Anderson, Graham Onions, Tom Bailey, Richard Gleeson and Saqib Mahmood all fighting for positions in the team shows the strength in depth that we’ve got at the moment. Matt Parkinson continues to impress as well, particularly with the white ball. In the first seven games of the Blast, he was taking a wicket every seven deliveries! The Vitality Blast campaign has started strongly with Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner both clearly having a big influence on the side. That is exactly what you want from your overseas players and they’re setting a fantastic example for the rest of the squad. It is such a good opportunity for some of the younger Lancashire players in the changing room to learn from players such as Glenn and James and it will only benefit them, and the Club, moving forward.

The performances in the Royal London One-Day Cup were magnificent, particularly as you think we were without Liam Livingstone, who was away with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and Alex Davies with a broken thumb, for the whole competition. To qualify for the knockout stages, which is something in itself that we haven’t done for a while, was a great achievement and then to go to Lord’s and beat Middlesex in the Quarter Final on their own turf was special. Moving on to the ICC Cricket World Cup that took place at Emirates Old Trafford in July, it was just a remarkable few weeks for everyone involved. The tournament has been in the planning at Lancashire Cricket for years and I was so delighted for everyone that it turned into an undoubted success, which wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the tireless work that

everyone has put in over the last 18 months. In many ways, here at Emirates Old Trafford, we’ve been building towards this point since we lost Test Match status back in 2008. The redevelopment of the ground over the last 10 years has been a journey for all of us. We now have one of the best cricket stadiums in the world and the last few weeks of the ICC Cricket World Cup have, in many ways, proved it. We had some of the most entertaining games in the competition and they were all such fantastic occasions for the Club. India v Pakistan was just astonishing. It wasn’t a great game, but the experience and atmosphere was remarkable. In all my years in sports and events, I’ve never known an atmosphere like it. Because they only play each other in ICC global tournaments, there’s always something extra on that game.

I’D PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK ALL THE STAFF AT THE CLUB WHO DID AN UNBELIEVABLE JOB. TO HOST SIX MAJOR MATCHES IN THE SPACE OF 24 DAYS WAS AN AMAZING EFFORT AND ONE WHICH SHOULDN’T BE UNDERESTIMATED.

I’d personally like to thank all the staff at the Club who did an unbelievable job. To host six major matches in the space of 24 days was an amazing effort and one which shouldn’t be underestimated. You have to give Head Groundsman Matt Merchant and his team huge credit. They are experts at what they do and are right up there globally. Most people say we have one of the very best squares - one of the best Test Match pitches - in terms of pace and carry. Financially, this competition will have a significant positive impact on Lancashire Cricket. Our financial results will be published later in the year, but what I can say is that this year will be a record year of revenue and profit for us which is fantastic. A large portion of that is down to the amount of hospitality that

we sold at the ICC Cricket World Cup and it was an unbelievable effort from our Commercial Team. We sold over £5m of hospitality, which is just phenomenal. To put it into perspective - one year you might sell £1.6-1.7m of hospitality, including an Ashes Test. But to do £5m across six days of sport, that is scaling new heights. What it means is that we can re-invest money back in to the Club, from the cricket department and first team squad, increasing participation and coaching at grassroots level and continuing to improve facilities at Emirates Old Trafford. Moving on to the Vitality Blast, which started at the end of July, we’ve all been delighted to see an increase in attendances for our home fixtures at Emirates Old Trafford. There has been an increase of 30 per cent in advance ticket sales compared to last year and we were thrilled to welcome a record non-Roses attendance for our first game of the competition against Durham of 13,710, which was a celebration in partnership with the local council’s Trafford Live day, a community event which saw local residents, supporters, Members, families and the region’s cricket clubs all celebrate a memorable few weeks of cricket with an expanded fan zone at Emirates Old Trafford. That was followed by what would have been a new record domestic crowd (outside of London and Finals Day) of 23,500 when we were due to play Yorkshire Vikings at Emirates Old Trafford before it was unfortunately rained off. The Club continues to work closely with the Members’ Representative Group (MRG) as we strive to improve the experience of watching the Red Rose at Emirates Old Trafford for our Membership. At the start of the season, the Club made a number of significant improvements including new see-through sightscreens, the installation of two new big

will see a number of different lenders consolidated into one. The new arrangement will significantly reduce our current annual interest burden and align its debt repayment profile with Lancashire Cricket’s long-term business plan. It really is a hugely important deal for the Club as the restructuring provides us with an ability to enter our next phase of growth in the coming years. screens, the mid-tier LED boards (the first cricket ground in the UK to do so) as well as water fountains around the ground. We’re also working with the MRG on how we can showcase and display the vast history and heritage of our great Club. I hope you have all enjoyed our former player’s timeline under A Stand where we’ve paid tribute to a number of players who have contributed greatly to Lancashire Cricket. More of this will follow around the ground and we will keep you updated and informed in due course.

As well as the rest of the domestic campaign, we’re also now looking ahead to the Ashes. In any normal year, just the Ashes would be big enough, but to have the Ashes, having already had the ICC Cricket World Cup, it’s almost a once-in-a-generation summer for cricket in England. We’re delighted to have the Ashes back at Emirates Old Trafford. They are incredibly special occasions and this will only be our third Ashes in 14 years after 2005 and 2013 so we’re all relishing having the eyes of the world on Emirates Old Trafford again.

One of our key priorities for last year was to deliver a major re-finance of the Club’s debt and working capital facilities and earlier in the summer, we were delighted to announce a new partnership with Metro Bank. The new agreement includes a new transformational multi-million pound refinancing package that

Thanks again for all your support this season so far and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Kind regards,

Daniel Gidney

“I STILL HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN – I’M ONLY 22” — F E AT U R E I N T E R V I E W —

We caught up with Lancashire fast bowler Saqib Mahmood who talks about his impressive season so far where he finished as the leading wicket taker in the Royal London One-Day Cup and has already made an impact in the Vitality Blast.

aqib Mahmood just loves to learn and improve his game as a fast bowler, and he has revealed how it has led to him being pretty protective about where he fields. The 22-year-old has enjoyed a mightily impressive summer so far, highlighted by 28 wickets in the early season Royal London One-Day Cup - a tally no other bowler in the competition could match.

Mahmood, Birmingham-born but raised in Rochdale, has turned heads up and down the land with his pace and skill, including those of the England management, who have him very much in their sights. He has always had the talent, but a frustrating run of injuries during the last couple of years have prevented him from showing it in a Lancashire shirt. Until now. Performances and improvement have come in bucketfuls, something he insists has been helped by playing alongside current and former England

duo Jimmy Anderson and Graham Onions, who have taken more than 2,200 first-team wickets between them across all formats during their careers. “At our best, we’ve had five bowlers who would get in any county side. That, at times, means people will have to miss out, which is disappointing,” said Mahmood. “But I’m very lucky to have all these guys around me - even if it means having to miss a game or two. “To play with Jimmy and Bunny, there’s so many guys around the world who would love to be in my position. You learn so much from them, and I just try and keep up with them. I still have so much to learn. I’m only 22. “Just watching how they go about it, the chats they have between themselves, is unbelievable. I’m sort of pushing other guys out of the way just so I can go and field at mid-on to see what they’re doing.

TO PLAY WITH JIMMY AND BUNNY, THERE’S SO MANY GUYS AROUND THE WORLD WHO WOULD LOVE TO BE IN MY POSITION.

ROYAL LONDON ONE-DAY CUP 2019 STATS Matches

Wickets

Average

18.5 Economy

5.42 Best Figures

“You just have to react to what’s put in front of you. And Jimmy’s outstanding at that. For example, he’s the best swing bowler in the world. But there will be days when he accepts, ‘I’m better off seaming it or I’ve got to bowl a certain length’. “It takes him four or five balls to work that out, whereas it might take someone else four or five overs. That can be the difference to taking three or four wickets in a spell or none.” From debuting for Lancashire in June 2015 to the end of 2018, he had taken only 35 wickets in 23 appearances for the county across all formats, with injuries proving a menace. Last season, his side was a particular problem. But, by mid-June this summer, he had already doubled that tally. At the time of writing, he was closing in on the 50-wicket mark. He said: ‘After last year, when I didn’t get to play much cricket at all through injury, it has been great to get back on the park consistently. I have kind of stamped my mark on this season,

to a degree, and it’s given me massive confidence. “I did make a bit of a joke earlier on this year - in the one-day comp where I said I was trying to make up for lost time in the last two years. “But it’s been nice to do it in county cricket where supporters and my peers haven’t really seen me do it. It’s been great to go out and showcase my skills. And I did get a few messages from guys who I’ve played with over the winter saying, ‘You know what, it’s nice for everyone else to see what you’re capable of’.” Mahmood’s performances included a superb three-wicket haul to help secure a Roses T20 win at Emerald Headingley towards the end of July, and he is now in the limelight as a result. But is that kind of thing easy to deal with? “If people are talking and saying nice things about me, it means I’m performing. I would rather that than be scrutinised for being injured all the time,” he added.

6/37

[vs Nottinghamshire]

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IN THE LONGTERM, I’D ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO PLAY CRICKET FOR ENGLAND. THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE AND WILL NEVER CHANGE.

“As an individual, with all that chat, you can probably put a bit more expectation on yourself. But I’m quite good at dealing with that. And once you’re out there, you don’t think about the comments that are made. If you’re not thinking about the game, you’re not going to perform. “It’s a format I’ve really enjoyed playing. I’ve not played as much as I’d like for Lancashire over the last couple of years, but I’m determined to go well in this year’s competition. “When I have played, either for the Lions or Lancashire, I’ve done well, and I feel my game has progressed a lot over the last 12 months or so. “We’ve got a really strong squad and we’re really pleased to have Glenn Maxwell and James Faulkner back in the changing room. They’ve both world-class performers and they bring so much to the group, both on and off the field. “In the long-term, I’d absolutely love to play cricket for England. That’s always been the case and will never change.

“I can’t look too far ahead and I’ve obviously got to take it as it comes. The One-Day and T20 competitions prepares you for that because the games come thick and fast and you can’t get ahead of yourself.” Despite returning figures of 6-37 and 5-14 in consecutive games against Northamptonshire and Leicestershire respectively, Mahmood insists that his favourite moment of the summer so far was the quarter-final victory at Lord’s and the Roses victory over Yorkshire. “Being able to walk the team off the field that day after taking four wickets was a great feeling. It’s always brilliant to win a crucial game at the home of cricket. “After the Roses game at Headingley, it was quite an overwhelming week. I got a lot more good messages than I ever have in the past.” Well, Saqqy, keep going the way you are and your phone may just explode!

“THERE’S SO MUCH MORE I WANT TO ACHIEVE” — F E AT U R E I N T E R V I E W —

Graham Hardcastle caught up with Lancashire Thunder Captain and England bowler Kate Cross to talk about her return to the international set-up, first year of captaincy and ambitions in the game moving forward.

t was 13 years ago, in 2006, that 15-year-old Kate Cross became the first female cricketer accepted onto the Lancashire Academy. So much has happened since - for good and bad but the seamer insists she has nowhere near been there, done it and bought the t-shirt in terms of her career. There is so much more to achieve.

Cross, as you read this, is captaining the Lancashire Thunder side in the Kia Women’s Super League. A maiden Finals Day and title would be something she could tick off. Another would be to play for England in an ICC global tournament, 50-overs or Twenty20. With close to 40 international caps across all formats since debuting in 2013, including an Ashes series victory Down Under early the following year, the Heywood star has never played in a World Cup. She was present at Lord’s watching from the stands when her team-mates

won the 50-over World Cup in the summer of 2017, a time when she was battling against mental health issues. And it was a definite inspiration: “Even the men lifting the trophy a couple of weeks ago leads you to remember that it’s worth going through all the hard times because there are good things that can be achieved,” she said. “It’s still a massive goal to play in a World Cup, be it 50 overs or T20. I’ve only won one Ashes as well. I’m only 27-years-old and know there’s not that much of a shelf life for a fast bowler. But there’s so much more I want to achieve. That’s a big driving force. When I was asked to captain the Thunder this year, I also thought, ‘This is another side of my career that I’ve not dipped into yet’.” Cross has captained sides before, the England Academy for example, but only on an ad-hoc basis. But the Thunder role, replacing now retired Danielle Hazell, comes at an ideal time for a player whose influence on the squad on and off the field

IT’S STILL A MASSIVE GOAL TO PLAY IN A WORLD CUP, BE IT 50 OVERS OR T20. I’VE ONLY WON ONE ASHES AS WELL. I’M ONLY 27-YEARSOLD AND KNOW THERE’S NOT THAT MUCH OF A SHELF LIFE FOR A FAST BOWLER.

has been huge in recent years. Her fielding last summer, for example, was particularly outstanding.

starting eleven, it can be difficult. You feel like you’re doing a lot of training for not a lot of reward.

“I’ve always hoped I’m the kind of person who leads by example, whether on the field or off it,” she said. “With Twenty20 being such a fickle game your good balls can go for six - I almost took the pressure off my bowling last year and put it on my fielding, thinking, ‘If I can really influence the game in that aspect’. It’s the same as batting and bowling. You need someone to lead the unit because it drags others along with you.”

“More than anything, it’s been a year of learning. I hadn’t played international cricket for two years, so I’ve been trying to learn new skills to make myself selectable. But you then have to put your skills into pressurised situations in games.

Cross admits she now knows her game better than ever before after a busy last 12 months of international and domestic cricket, the latter involving a winter spell as an overseas player for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash. She explained: “As a female cricketer, you just want to be playing. There aren’t that many opportunities to be playing at the highest level with it only being fully professional at international level. If you’re not in that England

“I have talked lots about how much I learnt from the Big Bash because the games come thick and fast. You have to learn quite quickly. It was invaluable, certainly as an overseas player, because people look up to you and assume you know your game inside out. “I know my game better than ever now. But that comes with experience. Learning about what my game looked like when it was put under pressure was huge. At that time, the Big Bash was the closest thing I had to international cricket to test myself at T20 level.” Although she admits to not thinking of it in that way until the question was

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posed, she agrees with the theory that knowing her game well now made accepting the Thunder captaincy a straightforward decision. “As a captain, you have to remember you’re a player first. It’s all well and good being able to captain, but you have to perform to be worthy of your place in the side. My Thunder record isn’t gleaming. I haven’t been leading wicket-taker every year. But this year has given me comfort that my game’s in a good place. “But captaincy or not, I’d like to think that I’m a good influence around the dressing room and players look up to me. When I’m at my best, it’s when I’m enjoying my cricket. I want that to be the case in the dressing room. I want it to be a happy environment and for girls to look forward to going out there and do what I see in the nets - not to have that fear.” In February, during a T20 match against hosts India in Guwahati, Cross bowled an incredible last over to seal a victory that will live long in her

memory. India, chasing 120, needed three to win with six wickets in hand. But she bowled three dots, took two wickets and then conceded only one run off the final ball. She added: “I was so set up for failure. No one ever really defends that. But it was one of those days when any of our bowlers could have done it. It wasn’t a particularly skilful over - it wasn’t back of the hand slower balls or anything. It was just simple cricket. “I wasn’t under any real pressure. The only time I was was when we could have lost the game with the last delivery. I remember speaking to my Dad (David) afterwards, who said, ‘I wasn’t worried until the last ball’. “We always talk about taking T20 games as deep as you can. To take that to even the third or fourth ball of the last over was incredible. Strangely, the last ball was the worst of the over. It gave her width, but thankfully Tammy Beaumont made a brilliant stop at point. Don’t get me wrong, it was an incredible feeling. Just a bit surreal.”

AS A CAPTAIN, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER YOU’RE A PLAYER FIRST. IT’S ALL WELL AND GOOD BEING ABLE TO CAPTAIN, BUT YOU HAVE TO PERFORM TO BE WORTHY OF YOUR PLACE IN THE SIDE.

We look back on an incredible ICC Cricket World Cup at Emirates Old Trafford which included fans on horses, records being smashed and a whole host of memorable moments.

How many times have you turned up to the cricket on a horse? o…didn’t think so. But that is exactly what a Pakistan fan did at Emirates Old Trafford for his side’s blockbuster ICC World Cup group clash with arch-rivals India on a memorable Sunday in mid-June, just one of six matches hosted across seven days in Manchester.

Of the 800,000 applications for tickets across the six fixtures, 600,000 alone came for India v Pakistan, with a ground capacity of 23,500: “It just shows what it means to those two nations,” said Lancashire’s chief executive Daniel Gidney, who hailed a hugely successful three-and-ahalf weeks for Lancashire through June and July. The India vs Pakistan clash, which saw one Indian family drive from Singapore to Manchester - 14,000 miles across 17 countries and 48 days, was the venue’s first fixture. It was therefore the first look at the new LED information ribbons installed by the Club in between tiers on Stand B and C either side of the UA92 Players and Media Centre. Lancashire, following significant investment earlier in the season, is the first cricket ground in the UK to install such screens.

when it looked like Brathwaite had muscled the winning six. Just 48 hours earlier, Brathwaite turned to Twitter to find a way to fix three of his beloved bats. Lancashire Cricket and Warren Hegg to the rescue. The Club took his three bats to a local bat manufacturer in Bury which were then retrieved to Emirates Old Trafford the night before their game against New Zealand. The next day, he hit one of the most scintillating centuries of the competition. Then came the rainaffected semi-final between India and New Zealand. Rain forced the contest into a reserve day, with the Kiwis tenaciously defending a 240 target to win by 18 runs and qualify for a final which England famously won to clinch their maiden one-day ICC crown at Lord’s. “The World Cup was fantastic,” continued Gidney.

What followed India v Pakistan was many a wow moment, including an England victory over Afghanistan in which Eoin Morgan smashed a world record 17 sixes in a blistering 148 off 71 balls and a heart-stopping New Zealand win against the West Indies despite Carlos Brathwaite’s stunning century helping the West Indies recover from 211-8 chasing 292 to only lose by five runs with Trent Boult taking a catch inches inside the long-on boundary

Everybody at the club played their part. What was really pleasing was when you get five out of six cricket writers in the Times choosing Emirates Old Trafford as their best venue of the tournament.

“It’s the third biggest event in the world in terms of broadcast volume behind the Football World Cup and the Olympics, and it didn’t disappoint. We’ve been hosting Test Matches for well over 100 years, but to host the World Cup again and have more matches than anybody else was a fantastic achievement for the club. “Everybody at the club played their part. What was really pleasing was when you get five out of six cricket writers in The Times choosing Emirates Old Trafford as their best venue of the tournament. For me, that’s a massive accolade. I can thank the staff personally, but third party

endorsement at that kind of level is massive. “We were thrilled with everything from the ground staff to the operations team to the commercial team, who did an unbelievable job selling hospitality. We sold over £5m of hospitality, which is incredible. To put it into perspective - one year you might sell £1.6-1.7m of hospitality, including an Ashes Test. But to do £5m across six days of sport, that is scaling new heights. Ernst and Young did an impact report, and they’ve said that the World Cup would be worth £32m for Greater Manchester, which is also a massive figure.” The 600,000 ticket applications for the India v Pakistan game was just one of many remarkable statistics to come from Emirates Old Trafford’s fixtures, which saw 3,280 runs scored, 160,000 beers sold, 9,471 hospitality covers and 150,000 kg of biscuits eaten by the media.

There was also one special moment for Lancashire under 17s spinner Praharsh Parikh when he bowled India legend MS Dhoni in the nets prior to the Pakistan clash. Parikh, born in Ahmedabad and having been part of the Rajasthan Royals junior set-up in the IPL, was one of a host of net bowlers and ending up rocking back Dhoni’s off-stump as he aimed a cut at one which didn’t bounce as much as expected: “I was stunned, simply stunned,” he said of his moment to cherish. Now onto the fourth of five Ashes Tests next month (September 4-8) when the ground, not least the 8,500 capacity temporary stand which required 47km of scaffolding to erect, will be rocking. “The Ashes is very special,” added Gidney. “This place is synonymous with some incredible Ashes moments, and this will be only our third Ashes Test in 14 years. So we have to celebrate when we have them. I think, because of the likelihood of some low-scoring affairs, we will get incredible excitement.”

Introduction Following the publishing of some main points from the Membership Survey last year, we reach that time of year again when weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to share the results of the 2018 survey. We received the results around the middle/end of March 2019, which is just a little late for the pre-season edition of Spin magazine. We also share the results with the Members Representative Group (MRG), when we discuss the priority areas. The survey is also an opportunity for us to receive comments from those Members who may not attend matches at Emirates Old Trafford all that often, or indeed prefer communication by post. Therefore, we believe that the best way to share this is back through Spin magazine and mailing of it to all Members, hence why it is being published in this

issue, rather than us communicating it on email or through the website. In general the results are positive and show some progress in areas, and some areas that we need to spend more time on. Overall, it is clear from the survey, that the Specsavers County Championship is the priority focus for Members and therefore, following the relegation in 2018, the disappointment we all felt resonates in some of the survey results. The Club is committed to ensuring that all areas are continually reviewed, plans put in place to improve where it needs to and also make other areas better than they have been, even if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had a good score.

Where do Members sit Clearly the Pavilion Terrace is the stand of choice for Members, but more and more Members are also finding other favourite stands to sit in for matches with B and C Stand becoming more popular.

Encouraging new Members When asked about what you as Members believe would encourage new Memberships, your view is that price is key. You will have noticed that we have restructured the pricing for the 2020 Membership, whereby a traditional Membership that includes all formats and all days of cricket is now priced at £195, which is well positioned compared to many other counties. We’re going to continue to work on how we can expand the already fair level of benefits included in Memberships to make them even better.

Cricket Priorities As we have mentioned in the opening introduction, it is clear that the Specsavers County Championship continues as the priority for Members, with the new competition ‘The Hundred’ having a small amount of traction too.

Catering Ratings This was a specific new question so hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t got any direct comparisons to last year. There is room for improvement here, and the catering team will be looking at options to address some of these scores.

Toilet Facilities The response around the toilet facilities remains fairly consistent year on year. We believe that the facilities have stood up well to the busy year theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had in 2019.

Disabled Facilities Since these results have come through it is an area we have worked hard on to ensure the feedback and response is better for 2019.

Access at Emirates Old Trafford The overall score on access is positive and we are aware of the space and decent level of access we have to the ground. We need to make the most of this and look to continually improve this score.

Domestic Friendliness The survey reported a slight decline in domestic game stewarding friendliness. The reduction is only small but nonetheless we pride ourselves on the strong scores in this area and have some fantastic people working for us.

Spin Magazine Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great to see how well Spin magazine is received and that Members like it. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always open to feedback and this latest edition has seen a refresh as part of a new publishing agreement.

Motivations to become a Member This was a new section and question, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fascinating to read the responses as to why people become and remain a Member.

Ticket Office The ticketing area has seen a lot of focus in recent years with new processes in place for international and domestic ticket and Membership dispatch and fulfilment, as well as a new ticketing system provider, with 3D views from seat, digital tickets and a new re-sale platform. Not all of this was in place when this survey was completed.

In the third part of our Team behind the Team series, Spin Magazine caught up with Lancashire’s Analyst, Max Backhouse, to find out a bit more about him and the work he does for the Red Rose. ax Backhouse’s journey to Lancashire’s First-Team Analyst, a role he has held for two seasons, has been a winding road taking him from studying Geography at University to working for Kelloggs, to watching Jos Buttler smack it miles in a school game.

Backhouse, 27, says his first cricketing memories involve his gran at home in Herefordshire, the county for whom he played age-group cricket. Since giving up on his dream to play professionally when he was “about 14”, he has achieved a pretty good second prize by working alongside plenty of star names at both Lancashire and Big Bash side Brisbane Heat. “My Gran got me into cricket,” he explained. “I grew up a Worcestershire fan being from Herefordshire. My gran was a ladies member, so I went there quite a lot. I think there are pictures dating back to when I was three with a cricket bat. “I played junior Minor Counties cricket for Herefordshire, although never for the first team. Some of the county cricketers going around now, I see and think, ‘I played against you when we were 13’. “I even played against Jos in a couple of school games. He was the year above me. He was always a gun player and one everyone watched out for. “I remember in the penultimate year of school when he would have been 17 -

he was at Kings College in Taunton and my schooling was in Monmouth - our opening bowler dropped a marginally short first ball of the game and Jos has planted him for an 85m six.” Backhouse, a junior wicketkeeper but having now given up the gloves, still plays league cricket for Pudsey Congs in the Bradford League. But, onto his working life. He continued: “I went to University in Southampton and studied Geography. By 18, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. But I enjoyed Geography at school. I briefly worked for Kelloggs straight out of Uni in supply chain. There was a lot of analysing data in that job, so there was a marginal crossover to what I’m doing now. “Basically, it got to a stage where I wanted to enjoy my job more, and cricket’s easily been my biggest passion. So I started to pursue what kind of job I could get into. “Three or four years ago, I approached Worcestershire and did a season helping them out just purely on Twenty20 whilst still working full time. But there wasn’t anything more permanent there. “I then approached a few Big Bash teams in Australia and have ended up doing the last two seasons with Brisbane Heat. Through Brisbane, I found out there was a job coming up at Lancashire, and I’ve been here with the first team for nearly two seasons. I love it.”

IT GOT TO A STAGE WHERE I WANTED TO ENJOY MY JOB MORE, AND CRICKET’S EASILY BEEN MY BIGGEST PASSION. SO I STARTED TO PURSUE WHAT KIND OF JOB I COULD GET INTO.

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Backhouse logs every first-team ball bowled. He analyses data in order to help give Lancashire an edge and provides a sounding board for players who want to review their performances in-game. “Most batsmen, in Championship games, will come and look almost instantaneously at their innings - shots, dismissals,” he said. “I have another laptop set up next to me, so they can go through what they want. “Some will go through most of their innings and look at freeze frames to check their positioning on good shots or deliveries they’ve got out to. The bowlers, not a lot during the game. Someone like Parky (Matthew Parkinson) looks a lot at his release point, though, to see if it’s coming out alright. “When we get to shorter formats, I do a lot more pre-game preparation that’s there as a resource. Then, during the game, our conversations will just be about refreshing stuff. “I also spend a lot of time analysing the opposition. It can be a really time consuming part of the job as you’ve just got to trawl through data and video clips of each batsman.

“I think a lot of people maybe assume that what works in a women’s game will work in a men’s game and have applied that theory without really thinking about it. What we found was that a lot of the trends were almost the exact opposite. “There has been a big emphasis in men’s T20 on wickets in the power play. There’s been stats floating around for some time now about how much more likely you are to win a game if you take three wickets in the power play. “In women’s cricket, particularly the Big Bash, we found that being one down or three down after the power play made no difference to your chances of winning the game. But if you were five runs further on at the end of the power play, your chances of winning went up 10 percent. “So we basically set up with a lot of power hitters early doors in order to go hell for leather early doors. We didn’t care whether we were 70 for three or four at the end of the power play, we just wanted to be ahead of the opposition. That totally changed the way we went about the game, and we ended up winning the competition.”

“It’s looking at trends to see where opposition batsmen score their runs, or where they are susceptible to getting out. You can then set specific plans to them, incorporating where we set our fields to them.” So what is his proudest moment so far as an analyst? “The one that really stands out, I did some work with the women’s team in Brisbane,” he explained. “Late last year myself and the other analyst did quite a lot of deep diving into the differences between what wins a women’s T20 game and what wins a men’s game.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE MAYBE ASSUME THAT WHAT WORKS IN A WOMEN’S GAME WILL WORK IN A MEN’S GAME AND HAVE APPLIED THAT THEORY WITHOUT REALLY THINKING ABOUT IT.

Below: Max Backhouse with the Women’s Big Bash trophy

Members’ Representative Group Update In this edition of Spin, the MRG would like to pay tribute to two special people and their families. One was a member of the Group who sadly passed away this year and the other was an ex President of the Club in the 1970’s.

A Tribute To MRG Member David Benwell Considering that David had only been in the MRG for a short time, the impact he made was significant and the affection he was held in was genuine. An intelligent and perceptive man, he had the gift of being challenging yet engaging at the same time. He could always be relied upon to analyse any issue succinctly yet comprehensively. His lovely wife Helen was able to tell us something of his remarkable life including one brilliant cricket story. The characteristics referred to above were undoubtedly shaped by his life experiences, most significantly the losing of his eyesight at the tender age of eight following a horrendous football injury. Inevitably his life changed profoundly from that moment yet he adapted very quickly to the hand fate had dealt him. He achieved an extraordinary amount in his education, employment and personal life. He was deputy head boy at secondary school, studied law at University, worked as a fraud investigator then senior lecturer at the Civil Service Management Training College, worked for BAE Systems in Wharton, the Cabinet Office, became HR Director for the DWP in Scotland and ultimately became Preston’s only blind magistrate. What a man! He coached various amateur football teams, was

the English blind golf champion for three years and fulfilled an ambition by owning a racehorse called Head of Chambers. What a life he enjoyed, which was made even more fulfilling when he met Helen, a Head-teacher in Liverpool, and the love of his life. David loved most sports, and had a passion for cricket and Plymouth Argyle Football Club. He attributed his love for cricket to his Worcester Headmaster. When he was a 14 year old in the late 1960s he organized a bus trip to see the touring Australian side at Warwickshire Cricket Ground as the celebration of Founder’s Day (where students were given a packed lunch, some money and told to go wherever they wished). Having entered the ground, David managed to sneak his pals into the Members Pavilion where they received a running commentary on the game from the Australian players! A

few days later the Head-teacher received a letter from the Australian Manager commending the good manners of the boys and asking his permission for them to receive six Privilege Tickets for a forthcoming Test Match. Of course, he had no option but to accept. An early example of David’s persuasive manner! The love of cricket blossomed and his variety of flower soon became the Red Rose, which he wore with deep satisfaction to his final days. Lancashire Cricket became an integral part of his life and he felt a great pride in being able to work with the Club’s senior executives through the Members Representative Group. There was nothing he loved better than being sat in his place on the Pavilion balcony listening to commentary on his old Long Wave radio. David was a kind, generous and inspirational man and will be much missed by his family and friends.

Remembering Fred Beattie – Lancashire Cricket President (1975-76) The MRG was recently contacted by John Beattie, grandson of our Club’s former President, who informed us that he was bringing his family down from Edinburgh to Emirates Old Trafford for the Monday of the Sussex County Championship fixture. They were all keen to see any evidence of Fred’s time at Lancashire. His connection went beyond his role as President and included playing five matches in the 1932 season before going on to enjoy a successful playing career with the Minor Counties and he was Chair of the Grounds Committee at Old Trafford for over 10 years. John sent us this lovely photograph of Fred discussing the wicket with Groundsman Bert Flack.

It was always going to be an emotional day for the family but Lancashire made it even more special. It started before a ball was bowled when James Price (Senior Communications Manager) gave the family a brief tour of the Media Centre. Here they paused for photographs by the Honours Board that shows all our past

More surprises were to follow, which included a brief visit to the Boardroom ( just before a Board meeting was about to start!) to see a framed picture of Fred and the other Club Presidents and a particularly thoughtful chat with the Chairman, David Hodgkiss and Justin Hopwood (Sales and Marketing Director). To cap a great day off, Bumble came over for a chat and reminisced with David about those wonderful times in the 1970s. Bumble was Club Captain when Fred was President. Everyone listening in was amazed at all the names they both remembered, whether Board or Committee Members. It was a delightful journey back in time.

Presidents. How they will treasure these images in years to come! Then it was off to the pavilion to take in all the remarkable changes that have occurred since Fred’s time. Phil Johnston kindly organised this part of the day and a lovely lunch in the 1864 suite followed a successful morning’s cricket for our team.

Thankfully Lancashire completed their victory mid afternoon to consolidate their position at the top of the league. John and David wandered out onto the pitch taking in the surroundings and no doubt talking of the past but also the amazing day that they had enjoyed. An overnight stay in the Hilton Garden Inn ensured the magic moments of the day could be digested fully. MRG members Chris Bent and John Lord spent some of the day with the family and they were so appreciative of the efforts that the Club made to ensure that everyone enjoyed a brilliant day.

Paul Edwards On A

‘Magical Four Days’ at Sedbergh School Cricket writer Paul Edwards reflects on his experience at Sedbergh School when Lancashire played Durham in the Specsavers County Championship at the end of June.

owards the end of Neville Cardus’s 1929 classic The Summer Game there is a chapter entitled “Cricket at Dover”. It comprises the three long pieces Cardus had written for The Manchester Guardian about Lancashire’s match against Kent at the Crabble in 1926.

Fifty-seven years later Matthew Engel described the accounts as “the perfect example of cricket reporting as idyll.” Like most people, I would not dispute that judgement and always felt I would be fortunate indeed if I ever covered a game which allowed me as much fulfilment as the match at Dover plainly gave to Cardus 93 years ago. Then on March 1 Lancashire announced they would be playing Durham at Sedbergh School. Within 24 hours everyone had an opinion on the decision. Many were negative. The Twittersphere went berserk. Where is the place? Why aren’t we playing in Lancashire? How do I get there? Where will I stay? Why aren’t we going to Southport or Blackpool? These were just five of the printable questions asked by supporters, some of whom are wellintentioned and loyal folk. Having stayed in the town in 1974, I could supply a few answers. “The ground’s in the middle of nowhere,” one person informed me. “No, it’s in the middle of Sedbergh,” I replied. For the moment I left the justifications to Lancashire officials but the issue of accommodation caused me as

much trouble as any spectator and required rapid resolution. Eventually I was fortunate to rent a house near the ground and to share it with Radio Lancashire’s Scott Read. The job of getting to Sedbergh could wait until June 29th. The season began and I soon found myself on the way to Cambridge, Newcastle, Liverpool, the Isle of Wight, Guildford and York. Thanks in part to the World Cup, it was an outground summer and I’ll never forget it. Yet even in the middle of covering eleven County Championship matches in as many weeks, I was aware that Sedbergh might offer the challenge of the season. It became the present I was reluctant to open. Transport was another issue. I can empathise a little with those who found getting to Sedbergh a tricky business. I don’t drive and it took me three train journeys to get to Oxenholme station. Then my scheduled bus didn’t arrive and I had to wait two hours for the next one. This was no problem as the nearby farm shop sold excellent coffee and I had plenty of reading to do. Yet my experience offers a polite corrective to those who

“The ground’s in the middle of nowhere,” one person informed me. “No, it’s in the middle of Sedbergh,” I replied.

believe cricket writers lead a cosseted life. Though we are enormously fortunate, we carry our own bags. But none of this inconvenience mattered at all when I got to Sedbergh and began to think about the ground on which the match would be played. That evening I met Daniel Harrison, the school’s headmaster, and Martin Speight, the director of cricket, in The Dalesman, a pub which would become our unofficial mess over the next three evenings. Both Harrison and Speight were full of enthusiasm for the game but I wondered how a school and its domestic staff might cope with the demands of First-Class cricket. Perhaps I would have been better advised to think about how I might report the game. Most people agreed that Sedbergh put on a magnificent show and the ground was immediately installed as the most spectacular First-Class venue in England. Many supporters from both Durham and Lancashire told me how much they were enjoying their four days in

the Howgill Fells, and the players themselves, albeit deprived of their usual comforts, also expressed their pleasure at being able to play First-Class cricket at such a venue. Should Lancashire return there for a First-Class match next season – and I absolutely believe they should – there are clearly some transport issues to be sorted out but they need to be weighed against the fact that this first venture was a tremendous success. Colleagues who were reporting World Cup matches still ask me enviously what Sedbergh was like. Everyone will have their own memories of the cricket. I will recall the batting of Dane Vilas and Rob Jones on the first day and that of Cameron Bancroft on the last. Of course, I will remember James Anderson bowling Bancroft for 77 on the second evening, a contest which was to be resumed, albeit very briefly, at the Edgbaston Test over four weeks later. But there is more to it than that. There is mist on Winder in the morning and there is sunlight on Baugh Fell in the evening. There is the generosity of everyone at the school and the sense of community engendered by the fact that players, officials and spectators were gathered in a relatively small location for four days. Over a month later the magic hasn’t faded. I doubt it ever will. Like supporters, writers have their favourite matches, those occasions when there was literally nothing else on earth they would rather have been doing. If my last thought on earth is of Lancashire playing Durham at Sedbergh, I shall pop my clogs a contented man.

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Sedbergh School Thoughts

James Anderson, Lancashire fast bowler: “A beautiful setting at Sedbergh School for the game against Durham. The boys gave everything.”

Tony Shaw, MRG member: “Sedbergh always was a most contentious decision borne out of unique circumstances. I only saw the first two days and used the club arranged coach for my travel, the free coach, was I thought a good gesture. I thought the venue was possibly the most beautiful ground I had ever visited. The facilities and viewing were excellent for an out ground, certainly I felt far superior to the other out grounds used this year. I thought the match was organised extremely well and there was a very welcoming feel to the experience.

Liam Livingstone, Lancashire player: “Great game of cricket at a great venue! Sedbergh School was a picture all week. Thanks to all the staff for looking after us.”

Steve Mcminn, Lancashire supporter: “We enjoyed our visit to Sedbergh School, where the facilities were good. Plentiful seating, helpful staff, good food in the Queen’s Hall and beautiful surroundings.”

Tony Yates, Lancashire supporter: “It is the most picturesque cricket ground I have ever visited. The facilities were second to none and the transport offered and organised by Lancs and the MRG was first class.”

Mike Barr, Lancashire supporter: “Fantastic day, beautiful ground, great organisation, interesting cricket; what more could you ask for?”

Mike Page, Lancashire supporter: “Great ground with a scenic backdrop. Thanks for the Club arranging coach travel. Shame that we couldn’t get the win. Be there next time”

MRG member Chris Bent: “It was a really great experience and a pleasure to work with the Club helping to organise the train and shuttle links. This was quite a challenge as we had no idea how many members would use it each day. I would like to pass on a big thanks to the members who showed great understanding, patience and humour. They helped to make the event such a special one”.

Colin Wood, Lancashire supporter: “What a fantastic venue for a cricket match. Well done Lancashire for holding a match at Sedbergh School for the first time.”

David Lloyd, former player: “It’s a spectacular venue. It’s a proper pitch with some pace and carry in it. I’m all for taking the game out and about across the region.” 49

“I’VE STILL GOT PLENTY OF CRICKET LEFT IN ME” — F E AT U R E I N T E R V I E W —

Graham Hardcastle caught up with all-rounder Steven Croft who has enjoyed a purple-patch this summer having signed a new one-year contract with Lancashire in the off-season.

n June, Steven Croft made his 500th first-team appearance across all formats, not just for Lancashire but for New Zealand sides Auckland and Northern Districts and the Lancashire Cricket Board right at the start of a career which will be lauded as a great one when it draws to a close. Thankfully, it is looking extremely likely that thank yous and goodbyes are some way off yet.

Croft, 34-years-old, has enjoyed an excellent summer, chiefly in the early season Royal London One-Day Cup when he scored 516 runs - the second best haul in the competition. It included scores of 110, 97, 99 and 68. His 500th career appearance came in the heavily rain-affected County Championship draw against Worcestershire at New Road when, ironically, he did not bat, bowl or take a catch in the match. The Blackpool-born all-rounder, who debuted for Lancashire at the start of 2005, laughed at the suggestion of, ‘Here’s to 500 more’ when we caught up during the early stages of the ongoing Vitality Blast, but there is no mistaking his intent to increase that tally. He is certainly desperate to tot

up 500 for the Red Rose alone and is within 30 of that mark. “I’m not sure I’ll get 500, but I’ll try and get in as many as I can,” said the player who signed a one-year deal for 2019. “When I started, I would never have dreamt of playing this many professional games.” Croft was not a regular first-team pick last season and admitted to doubts over whether his Lancashire career would continue: “I signed a contract for this season at the end of last, but you always have those doubts as to whether it will continue when opportunities are limited,” he said. “But it makes performances a bit sweeter when they come, and I’ve proved to myself as much as anyone else that I’ve still got plenty of cricket left in me. “This season has gone really well. Getting a go in the one-dayers, it was initially down the order, and that was a bit frustrating. But I wanted to do the best I could. Then the chance came to bat at three, which I grabbed with both hands. “I forced my way into the Championship side from there, and it’s been great because the team have been going well, which is the main thing.

I FORCED MY WAY INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP SIDE FROM THERE, AND IT’S BEEN GREAT BECAUSE THE TEAM HAVE BEEN GOING WELL, WHICH IS THE MAIN THING.

“To qualify for the quarter-finals and the semi-finals of the one-day Cup was a big thing for us because it’s something we haven’t done for a while. It was one of our goals for the season alongside promotion in the four-day stuff.” When Croft does hang up his boots, there is a fair chance we will still see him at Emirates Old Trafford given he is intent on a career in coaching. He is halfway through his ECB Level Four qualification, for example (the highest level a coach can reach).

WE HAVE SOME TALENTED YOUNGSTERS COMING THROUGH NOW... IT SHOWS JUST HOW USEFUL THE ACADEMY HAS BEEN AT THE CLUB.

Away from the game, he has been a personal fitness trainer. “Ever since captaining the side, I’ve taken an interest in the coaching side of things,” explained the player who won the Championship title in 2011 and skippered the Lightning to their only Blast title so far in 2015. “Those two years were very special, and it was all set this year with the 50-over competition. I’ve never played in a Lord’s final and wanted to play in that. The trophy wins were massive standouts, and we had a good local core in both of those sides.

“We have some talented youngsters coming through now, and it’s nice to see those who you’ve played and worked with, given advice to, have success in the first or second team. It shows just how useful the Academy has been at the Club.” One thing that has passed Croft by is England honours, coming closest when he was named in their 30-man preliminary squad for the World T20 in 2012. Frustrated? Yes. Dwelling on it? Certainly not. “I would have loved the chance to have represented England, and around 2012, 2013, 2014, I did really well in the white ball comps and felt I could have made a squad here or there,” he added. “It’s a small frustration. T20 would perhaps have been my best chance, and there was a time when they were playing more specialist T20 players who’d had success around the counties. But it’s out of my hands. I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved at county level.”

In the second part of our new series, where we’re speaking to a number of off-the-field staff at Emirates Old Trafford, we caught up with Sarah McManus, who works in the Club’s Operations Department, to find out a little more about what her role entails on a match day, as well as on a day-to-day basis. What is your job title? SM: I am an Events and Project Manager. How long have you been working at Lancashire Cricket? SM: I’ve been working at Emirates Old Trafford for just over four years now. What does your day-to-day role include? SM: I manage the various events at Emirates Old Trafford which includes all international and domestic matches over the course of the season, both at HQ and at the various outgrounds we use in the North West. What has been the highlight of working at Emirates Old Trafford? SM: I’d have to say it was being part of the One Love concert – it was such a quick turnaround, particularly with us hosting The Courteeners the week before, but it was such a memorable and spectacular event. Everyone came together as a team ensuring everything was set up and seeing Manchester come together, despite the devastating event, was really something special.

How did you prepare for the biggest summer of cricket at the venue? SM: There were so many elements to consider this summer. The amount of planning with the ICC and ECB has been so detailed and dates back to the start of 2017. We’ve also worked closely with all the other stakeholders both internal and external to the business who have a vested interest in the season, to ensure everyone is comfortable about the upcoming events, this could include local authorities, GM Police, Transport for Greater Manchester and others. Our

Our job within the Operations Team is to ensure that the venue is looking its very best and that we have all the relevant facilities available to ensure everyone has a great experience whilst they’re here.

job within the Operations Team is to ensure that the venue is looking its very best and that we have all the relevant facilities available to ensure everyone has a great experience whilst theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here. What does a match day look like for you? SM: Match days are incredibly busy. Typically, I manage the coordination of the site alongside the maintenance team. I also liaise with the other members of the Operations department and the Venue Safety Officer to ensure that the venue is safe, clean and ready to open the gates to the public.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll also respond to calls as they come in around the site, manage the on-site entertainment and prepare the gates for fans to exit when the game finishes. How does your job differ from a match day, as opposed to a nonmatch day? SM: On a non-match day, I am mainly office based, ensuring the relevant administration and planning is done and in time for the install of the fixture. On an install day, where vendors are setting up, deliveries are being made and hotel guests are checking in, we ensure that each stakeholder has been briefed and knows where to go and what to do. We liaise regularly with the Venue Safety Officer to ensure that all health and safety aspects are correct and the stadium is ready for visitors.

Remembering

Jack Bond 1932-2019 Paul Edwards pays tribute to the former Lancashire Captain and Manager, Jack Bond, who sadly passed away earlier this summer, aged 87. he most moving moments of the 2019 cricket season at Emirates Old Trafford occurred at 10.55 on the morning of Saturday, July 13, when the Lancashire and Sussex teams observed a minute’s silence in memory of Jack Bond, who had died less than 48 hours previously after a long illness stoically borne.

But of course it was not only the cricketers preparing for the first day of their game who paid their respects. Everyone in a stadium which has been developed beyond all recognition since Jack’s great years stood pillarstill. And at the end of the line of players was David Lloyd who, nearly fifty years earlier, had trod the same outfield behind one of the best skippers in Red Rose history and would succeed Bond as captain in 1973. Every member of Lancashire’s team that summer morning was far too young to remember Bond’s playing days but all of them knew who he was, not least 22-year-old Matt Parkinson, who spoke warmly about him after a day in which he had taken six wickets. Then Parkinson returned

to the plush dressing room upon whose walls is printed Bond’s simple commission: “The future of this great club is in your hands.” As ever, Jack knew whereof he spoke. In 1968 Lancashire’s future had lain in his hands when he was appointed skipper in succession to Brian Statham. What followed was a five-year spell in charge during which Lancashire won two John Player League titles and three successive Gillette Cups. Even more significantly, perhaps, a love of cricket was fostered in many young spectators and Lancashire’s affinity with limited-overs cricket was born, an attachment which can still be heard on the big T20 nights at Emirates Old Trafford when the old choruses drown out the new. Yet it was faintly miraculous that Bond was ever appointed captain. He was born in 1932 in Kearsley, for whom he played his first club cricket. But his promise had been first identified at Bolton School and he later joined the Central Lancashire League club, Radcliffe. In 1955 he joined Lancashire during an era when some of the best professional cricketers in the land were poorly led. Bond

worked on his batting and was shown how not to captain a cricket team. In 1962, though, there was talk of an England call-up when Bond scored 2125 first-class runs, a tally which included five centuries. But he was not near to being selected for that winter’s Ashes tour and early the next season had his wrist badly broken by the West Indian fast bowler Wes Hall. Bond returned to cricket too early and endured some quiet seasons at a club riven by disunity and weakened by sackings. In the winter of 1967-8 it seemed likely he would be released but on the advice of the well-regarded former captain, Bob Barber, he was instead offered the captaincy. “We’ve just had a committee meeting and they want you to take the captaincy on a caretaker basis while they look for somebody else,” the new skipper was told over the phone by the secretary, Jack Wood. “Jack was an in and out first team player but in their wisdom the committee then chose the right fella,” said David Lloyd. Bond took a group of talented cricketers and turned them into a team. To home grown talents

The future of this great club is in your hands. [Jack Bond]

CRICKET

Desert Springs Club 8-A-Side

Friday 27th Monday 30th September

First Class Counties 20/20 Tournament

Friday 4 Monday 7th October

Girls U’15 & Boy’s U’13 Cricket Eights

Saturday 26th Wednesday 30th October

Women’s Festival of Cricket

Thursday 31st October Sunday 3rd November

Desert Springs Senior Masters Cricket Festival

Thursday 19th Monday 23rd March

Desert Springs Inter County Over 60’s Championship

Thursday 23rd Tuesday 28th April

like Barry Wood, Harry Pilling, Jack Simmons, Peter Lever and Ken Shuttleworth was added the international class of Farokh Engineer and Clive Lloyd. When the John Player League was introduced in 1969, Bond welcomed the new competition even as other captains were contemptuous of it. “This new league can be the making of cricket,” he said in 1969. “We may not like sacrificing first-class principles in order to provide a spectacle but it is worth a try. Let us go out there and enjoy ourselves; if we do that the crowds must surely enjoy themselves, too.” Yet the first-class principles mattered to Bond as well. Lancashire twice finished third in the County Championship during his time as skipper and it remained a matter of regret that his side never won the title. Red Rose supporters on the other hand, whose team had won nothing in 35 years except a championship shared with Surrey in 1950, flocked to Old Trafford for the great occasions such as the famous 1971 Gillette Cup semi-final in the dark when David Hughes took 24 off a John Mortimore over to steer Lancashire to a three-wicket victory. Just over five weeks later many of those 23,520 spectators were at Lord’s to see the 39-yearold Bond leap to his right to take the diving catch which dismissed Asif Iqbal for 89 and all but clinched the trophy.

good man personally that you wanted to do well for him.” It is a revealing comment and hints at the deep-sunk anchors of Bond’s life. He was a practising Christian who sang in the choir of the Worsley Road North Methodist Church where he and his wife, Florence, were married in April 1955. When asked by Douglas Miller, his excellent biographer, to define his brand of Methodism, Bond replied: “Friendship and fellowship, community living, bonding together, helping people less fortunate than yourself.”

With the hat-trick of Gillette Cup wins completed Bond stepped down from the Lancashire captaincy at the end of the next season. Cricket, though, was in his blood and it kept calling him home. He was playermanager of Nottinghamshire in 1974 and then head cricket coach at King William’s College, Isle of Man, where he also won the island’s table tennis championship. In 1980 he was appointed Lancashire manager and from 1988 until 1997 he was a first-class umpire. “Jack’s great strength was that he knew about teamwork,” said Clive Lloyd. “He was such a

Tweak those phrases a little and they are not bad principles upon which to guide a cricket team. They certainly helped an undemonstrative Boltonian lead a Lancashire side to glory in five memorable summers. They also explain why, even into his eighties, Bond could be found working part-time at Old Trafford, patiently preparing net wickets on the ground that was always home. Bond is survived by his wife, Florence, his daughter Stephanie, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A son, Wesley, died in a car accident in 1986. At Jack Bond’s funeral his coffin was carried by six former Lancashire cricketers: Michael Atherton, Glen Chapple, Neil Fairbrother, Warren Hegg, David Hughes and Barry Wood.

Where Are They Now?

Stephen Moore

Graham Hardcastle caught up with former Lancashire batsman Stephen Moore on his memories from the 2011 title winning campaign, and what he’s done since retiring from the game. FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS, I’VE BEEN WORKING FOR ROLLS ROYCE AEROSPACE.

or Lancashire, 2011 was a Rolls Royce of a year. Now County Championship winning opening batsman Stephen Moore is working for them.

Moore, who retired midway through 2014 following half a season with Derbyshire, had an eye on his career away from the game from a very early stage. He studied a Masters in engineering at Exeter prior to joining his first county Worcestershire and later an executive MBA at Manchester Metropolitan. The ex-England Lions man works as a Cost Programme Manager for Rolls Royce Aerospace and has been doing so for the last year and a half. He lives in Alderley Edge with his wife Ruth and their young family and spends a lot of his working time at the head office in Derby. Moore spent four seasons at Emirates Old Trafford between 2010 and 2013 having been signed by Peter Moores after a prolific spell at New Road.

He topped the 1,000-run mark in 2011 and forged a crucial opening partnership with Paul Horton, who achieved the same personal milestone. Unfortunately, towards the end of his time with the Red Rose he was unable to marry up excellent form in limited overs cricket with runs in the Championship and was released. He subsequently signed for Derby, but he retired midway through 2014, even though he had started well with his third and final county, in order to pursue business interests. “I finished my executive MBA, which I started when I was at Lancs, and that led me into finance,” he explained. “I went into Private Wealth Management. “But for the last 18 months, I’ve been working for Rolls Royce Aerospace across the business. “I’m in a management role. I’m what they call a Cost Programme Manager.

“We are currently making four big engines that go on the double aisled planes for Airbus. “Some of my time is spent with the commercial and purchasing teams, looking at supply chains and how we purchase the parts and how we get them from our suppliers based all around the world. My morning tends to be in China, my mid-morning in India and my afternoon in the US. “Then, I also spend time working with designers, looking at how we make them and what our future engines are going to look like.

Moore is far from a stranger at Emirates Old Trafford, often heard summarising on Vitality Blast matches alongside BBC local radio’s Scott Read.

“I was in a no-win situation,” he smiled. “I was extremely pleased for Worcester, I have to say, although I’d rather it not been to Lancashire’s detriment.

“That’s been great,” he said. “It’s been a really lovely way for me to stay connected with the club and with the game more broadly.

“They are a great bunch of guys and the county puts their heart and soul into everything they do.”

“I have said to myself and others that I’m keen to stay connected to the game and to give back. I’d love to look at getting back into the business of cricket at some point, whether that’s through the PCA, the ECB or the MCC.

Moore’s family are also immersed in music. The man himself is a keen guitarist and saxophonist, while wife Ruth is a professional singer and teacher. She once sang at a Lancashire end of season dinner. “She had to put it on hold for the kids but is getting back into it more and more now,” he continued. “She does a little bit of lecturing, private tuition and coaching, and she’s starting up some band work again and may look to progress some of her album work. It’s great having that musical influence in the house, especially with kids.” On his memories of 2011, he added: “It was a fairytale season in so many ways. “It was a dream come true, and one of the highlights of my cricketing career was that day down in Somerset when we managed to get over the line.

“I also work with the guys who make the engines on the shop floor and look at how we put the engines together. “It’s quite nice because I get to see the whole shooting match from ideas to the engines being built and then being delivered to our customers. “Trying to navigate the complexities of building a jet engine and trying to navigate the vast nature of Rolls Royce as a company is certainly a bit different than opening up against a dibbly dobbler on a green top at Aigburth!”

“I’d love to be able to give back my knowledge, interest, love and passion for cricket.” Moore, who plays no recreational cricket aside from a handful of charity and MCC games, was part of the BBC commentary team at Finals Day when Lancashire were beaten by eventual champions Worcester in the semi-final.

“I loved playing with and under that group of players and people and loved how competitive we were. It was everything I wanted in a team. We walked out on the park every single day expecting to come out on top. If our backs were against the wall, we’d generally find a way. “Maybe we weren’t the best team on paper man to man as so many people have pointed out, but as a team and club we had such great energy and drive. “That was a great year, and I felt we’d been building to that point for a couple of years. The disappointing thing was the hangover from that year with us going down the following summer.”

GEORGE BALDERSON ON MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE FIRST TEAM — E M E R G I N G P L AY E R I N T E R V I E W —

When George Balderson breaks into Lancashire’s first team, the fledging allrounder will be able to gain the upper hand in a running joke with his older brother Tom.

Tom’s actually played FirstClass cricket for Cambridge University.” explains 18-yearold George, a left-handed batsman and a right-arm seamer. “He’s played in the Varsity fixture a couple of times, which are first-class. So he’s played more first-class cricket than me, and he tries to wind me up a bit.”

I’VE PROBABLY BEEN ON THE SIDE OF A CRICKET FIELD WITH MY MUM AND BROTHERS SINCE THE AGE OF THREE OR FOUR.

The chances are that when George sits around the dinner table of a cricket mad household in the not too distant future, he will have plenty of ammunition to go back at 20-year-old Tom with. He has already captained the England Under 19s, impressed in the Red Rose second team and, at the start of the summer, travelled to Dubai on the county’s senior pre-season tour - not too long after signing his first professional contract. “It’s been a 12 months to look back on quite fondly,” he said before explaining more about his background and style of play for those Lancashire fans who don’t know too much about him yet. “I’ve been away with the under 19s and on Lancashire’s preseason tour, mixing with players I’ve watched plenty of times on TV.

“I first got into cricket watching my dad (Phil - whisper it quietly, a Yorkshireman) play at Cheadle Hulme Cricket Club. I also played junior and senior cricket there. But it got to a stage where if I wanted to get better I needed to move and play (Cheshire County) Premier League first-team cricket to try and improve my batting. So I’ve been at Hyde for about three years now. “I’ve probably been on the side of a cricket field with my mum and brothers since the age of three or four. “My little brother (Ben) also plays and my older brother does too. My mum’s (Kirsty) never played, but she’s just got used to it now and gets involved in it all. My little brother is quite good. He plays age-group Cheshire stuff. “I grew up as an opening batter, but my bowling has developed as I’ve got a bit older. I’ve always favoured opening the batting, but I’ve accepted that as I’ve gone up the levels it might be more realistic that I bat in the middle order. I’ve had to adapt my game to bat in the middle order. It’s been a big learning curve for me because it’s very different.” Balderson, who has been playing Lancashire second-team cricket for the last two seasons having come through the Academy, name checks Sir Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings as players he looks up to and says

Coming through Cheshire pathways, I’ve captained sides from 11-17. I’ve also captained the North of England in the Super Fours competition, but leading your country is a different pressure.”

Graham Onions has been a big help with his bowling. Cook and Jennings have both had previous captaincy experience, something which Balderson did with the England Under 19s for a recent tri-series against India and Bangladesh. He said: “It’s been a challenge, but a great one because, as a young set of lads, everyone has raw talent, and that can be quite difficult to manage at times. The opportunity to lead is something I’ve always wanted to do.

Earlier this summer, Balderson finished his A-Levels: “I’ve applied to University, but I’m not planning to go,” he said. “I have this and next year on my contract at Lancs, and I want to impress and get a new contract and see where we go from there. Hopefully I’ll get some decent results and would go to Uni at the end of my contract if it didn’t work out, which I’m confident it will because I back myself. “It was a target to play first-team cricket this year, and in my head the back end of the summer was more realistic with the weight of cricket I’d be playing later on with the seconds and now the under 19s. “I haven’t quite got the volume of runs I really wanted, but I missed out on a lot of decent opportunities to impress with my A-Levels. Hopefully I can try and put some pressure on in the next few weeks.”

IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT A GREAT ONE BECAUSE, AS A YOUNG SET OF LADS, EVERYONE HAS RAW TALENT, AND THAT CAN BE QUITE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE AT TIMES.

ROB JONES ON MAKING HIS MARK IN THE FIRST TEAM — F E AT U R E I N T E R V I E W —

We caught up with Lancashire batsman Rob Jones on his form in 2019 and making his mark on the first team squad.

hen Rob Jones scores a century, you can’t help but smile. Exuberant and passionate are a couple of words which best describe the former England Under 19s batsman’s celebrations. After all, as he explains, he just loves Lancashire Cricket. Well, the feeling is mutual.

It is safe to assume that, with his maiden full summer of first-team cricket going swimmingly, the 23-yearold will add many more hundreds to the two he already has at first-team level - both against Middlesex in the County Championship in late 2016 at Emirates Old Trafford and at the start of this summer at Lords. “I just can’t help myself,” he said of his love for a celebration. “It’s nothing put on or exaggerated, it just comes from within. I’m quite an emotional character, and when I do well I just want to celebrate. That’s the way it is, and it comes from the heart because I love this county so much. I’ve got a lot of pride in playing for Lancashire.”

Warrington-born, Jones has demonstrated his versatility as a batsman throughout 2019, also shining in the early season Royal London oneday Cup, highlighted best by a superb fifty in a thrilling Roses win at Emerald Headingley. Prior to the start of the summer, the Red Rose hierarchy were keen to see some of the county’s younger players make their mark in what was hoped would be a promotion-winning campaign. Jones has done exactly that. “It’s just been nice to contribute to a lot of wins and put my hand up when I’ve needed,” he continued. “It’s been a great challenge, and I’ve really enjoyed it. It always helps if you get a hundred under your belt early because it gives you a bit of breathing space to bed into your role, which has been great. “In the one-day stuff, I wouldn’t say I’ve proved myself yet because I haven’t played that much. But it was nice to have a crack at it. That one score at Headingley, I know I can do it because I played really well that

IT ALWAYS HELPS IF YOU GET A HUNDRED UNDER YOUR BELT EARLY BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU A BIT OF BREATHING SPACE TO BED INTO YOUR ROLE WHICH HAS BEEN GREAT.

game. I’m so thankful for the backing of the management because it means I can go out there and relax and express myself.” Jones debuted towards the end of 2016, scoring his maiden ton in his third Championship match. But he was forced to remain patient the following year, which frustratingly saw him only play three times. Last year, he played five times, with a season-ending 68 in a win at Hampshire paving the way for regular cricket this term. “What happened after 2016 made me more hungry, definitely,” he said. “I played the back end of that season and then the opportunities were quite limited because we signed Dane Vilas and Shiv Chanderpaul. So I played twos for the majority of that season. “I said to myself, ‘This is the way it is, I can’t do much about it, so I’ve got to knuckle down and want it even more’. And I did. The last two seasons, I got 1,400 runs in the twos. It wasn’t necessarily proving that I could do it to anyone else, more so myself in making sure I had the right attitude.”

Jones has not just enjoyed his success this season, he has enjoyed that of his team-mates. He explained: “There’s been a core of us grow up through the Academy, myself, Matt Parkinson, Danny Lamb, Toby Lester, Haseeb Hameed, Al Davies and Liam Livingstone. “We’ve all grown up playing through the Academy together. We’re all great mates on and off the field, and that helps with team spirit. We stick together whether it’s good days or bad.” Lancashire are not only set to win promotion back to Division One, but they are also firmly on course to go up in style by winning the Division Two title. Jones added: “That was what we spoke about at the start of the year, ‘How are we going to win this title?’ We don’t just want to get promoted, we want to win it and set a benchmark for how we want to play our cricket. So far we’ve done that. “We’ve done well in T20, got to Finals Day and won it in 2015. But winning Division Two and getting back to where we belong was top of the list.”

I’M SO THANKFUL FOR THE BACKING OF THE MANAGEMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN GO OUT THERE AND RELAX AND EXPRESS MYSELF.

Lancashire Cricket Commercial Update Welcome to this issue of Spin. We thought it would be useful to provide a more detailed update on the commercial side of the Club for Members, especially considering the year we have had so far, and that’s before we enjoy what promises to be a very special Ashes Test Match. Both David (the Chairman) and Daniel (our Chief Executive) have mentioned the scale of this year in terms of the commercial opportunity. As well as it being a financial opportunity, it is, more importantly, an opportunity to grow the game as a whole. More people will have come through the gates here in 2019 than any other year, and we need to ensure that we have delivered the right experience, captured their imagination and incentivised and encouraged them to return. In addition, on the back

of the awareness of cricket in 2019, and England’s ICC Cricket World Cup victory, we are striving to see more people pick up a bat and ball to play the game, support it in some way and be part of a local club or initiative, such as All Stars Cricket. Firstly, let’s start with domestic cricket and the venue as a whole for you as members. We had a flurry of positive comments after announcing the scale of the work we undertook in the 2018/19 off-season, with the likes

of the sight screen, LED ribbon on the two stands, new giant screens, improved ways of presenting the scoring and overall a lot of maintenance done, to name just some. This approach will continue, with one of the new projects for this winter being heritage and history.

Individuals from the Membership Representative Group will be working on how we best present our history within this great stadium.

Former Lancashire captain Warren Hegg, Membership’s Phil Johnston and individuals from the Membership Representative Group will be working on how we best present our history within this great stadium. We are very conscious that we’ve gone through the stadium rebuild process and created the sustainable commercial model that is delivering the right and appropriate levels of revenue and profit to fund the game, we have a fantastic cricket set-up with some of the game’s most talented players and secured some of the best international fixtures for the long term. But I have heard from Members that we haven’t done ourselves justice in the heritage area and I’ve observed and noted what we need to be better. One of the first priorities is to look at how the history of this great club is presented around the entire ground, with plenty of ideas coming to the fore, and we look

forward to updating you in due course ahead of the start of next season. Secondly, and a big impact on everyone’s focus for the last two years, is the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Ashes. We were very fortunate to have been allocated six ICC Cricket World Cup fixtures, more than any other host venue, and as part of that allocation we hosted India Vs Pakistan, the biggest game in world cricket. They don’t meet often, and when they do, it’s a fantastic atmosphere, and Sunday 16 June 2019 was no different. It’s important to remember that for the World Cup we were a host venue, which means it’s a clean stadium (all existing branding comes down, including the naming rights of the venue), the tournament organisers sell the match tickets across the entire Tournament, host venues hold the hospitality sales rights, so we buy the match tickets from the World Cup and create our own product to sell, and although the World Cup provide some staff, for instance media operations/ management and roles such as a venue manager and security, we still have to ensure the venue runs successfully.

Our priorities and objectives were to ensure we delivered the right experience, which was commensurate with a sporting event to the size and scale of the ICC Cricket World Cup for the supporters, customers, teams and the ICC and World Cup staff. In addition, we needed to achieve the appropriate levels of financial return, and this is no different to any other major sporting event, they are showcases for the specific sport both from a live audience perspective and from a TV perspective, and the revenues help fund the future growth of said sport. One good example of this is how we approached the hospitality product. It was our commercial right, so that means we create the product, we buy the match ticket from the World Cup team, and we create an experience and sell it to supporters and guests, and then deliver it on matchdays. We felt that we needed to deliver an all-encompassing World Cup experience that was specific to the Tournament and not just

what we always do, which is always well received and rated highly. We can then develop this hospitality experience into the Ashes, and longer term. Official ticket-inclusive hospitality for the major matches is an important revenue stream for the Club and is an evolving product across sport, and we have to ensure that our experience stays at the forefront of this and is what the customer wants. We invested significantly in delivering a hospitality experience, some of which was invested in new furniture, audio/visual equipment, branding and entertainment, much of which benefits us longer term. Daniel has talked about the financials in his article, and when you add in the hospitality sales revenues for the Ashes too, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re extremely proud of what we have achieved this summer, as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delivered a market-leading experience and generated the desired level of financial return, that allows us to invest in the membership, the venue and the game as a whole longer term.

It is very easy to get caught up in the high profile events likes the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Ashes, but we also need to remain focused on our year on year commercial areas.

It is very easy to get caught up in the high profile events likes the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Ashes, but we also need to remain focused on our year on year commercial areas. We haven’t talked much about our retail structure. We took in-house control of the retail operation from Kukri almost two years ago, with 2019 being the first full year (taking into account how far in advance ordering has to take place) that we could start to see its impact. One also has to take into account the fact that the retail rights, within the clean stadia contract, for the ICC Cricket World Cup belonged to an external organisation who buy them from the ICC, therefore we didn’t have any retail presence on World Cup matchdays. We are aiming for more than 300 per cent growth in retail revenues in 2019, compared to 2018, and you’ll see that month by month the product range is evolving. This year we have sold out of both the blue One Day shirt and the red T20 shirt. We will in future order more, but these have both seen decent growth increases in the last two years. Since the start of 2018, we have also been able to focus on growing the Vitality Blast attendances, with the right level of resource and investment. We had the highest overall growth in T20 crowds across all 18 counties in 2018, compared to 2017, and we are set for a similar standing in 2019, despite some very challenging weather in August especially around the Roses fixture. The 13,710 crowd at the opening day of this year’s Tournament was a very proud moment for everyone here. We are still behind

Surrey and Middlesex in terms of match ticket sales, but we are now firmly established as a county with strong attendances and a fantastic atmosphere, which means we’ve come a long way in the last few years. Partnerships and sponsorship also continue to play a major part in our income make-up and how we operate, and we’ll touch more on this area in a future issue of Spin. We have presented previously at member forums and AGMs around the importance in cricket to create a sustainable and growing commercial business that funds the cricket. As well as all of the attention on the cricketing events this year, we have ensured that the conference, events and hotel business continues to flourish, grow and continually position us as one of the stand-out venues for event, business and travel decision makers. In 2018 we achieved more than £8 million in combined event, conference and hotel business, compared to around £4.5 million in the last year of the Lodge’s operation in 2015. We’re forecasting continued growth in this area in 2019. It’s been a busy 12 months and a busy few years building up to 2019. Thank you for your continued thoughts and feedback. We’re always open to any areas of feedback and thoughts.

Justin Hopwood Sales and Marketing Director

Lancashire’s First Team squad helped to celebrate a record-breaking year of All Stars Cricket across the county by inspiring participants with a series of special visits. IT’S BEEN A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CRICKET CLUBS TO SHOWCASE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FACILITIES BY PROMOTING A WARM, WELCOMING, FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT Nine centres across Lancashire were treated to a special Friday night visit in May, in the same week that the Club welcomed 1,500 school children to Emirates Old Trafford for its annual Schools Open Day. The memorable evening kicked off with Haseeb Hameed’s trip to Bradshaw CC, before Keaton Jennings arrived at Urmston CC and Liam Livingstone at Westhoughton CC. Spin bowling trio Matt Parkinson, Stephen Parry and Tom Hartley were at Edgworth CC, Woodhouses CC and Tarleton CC to lend a helping a hand and sign some autographs.

Whilst Rob Jones thrilled All Stars at Newton le Willows CC, with Steven Croft at Longridge CC and Richard Gleeson at St Annes CC. Earlier that month, Lancashire all-rounder Danny Lamb had visited Roe Green CC on the ECB’s National Launch Day for All Stars Cricket, he was joined by official mascot Twinkle and over 50 children enjoying an unforgettable first taste of cricket.

The visits crowned a special summer that has seen over 3,500 children signed up across 128 centres in the county, with more five-to-eight year olds taking up cricket in Lancashire than ever before. Not only did All Stars offer an introduction into playing cricket, by signing up in Lancashire participants were also eligible to take up Lancashire Cricket’s free ticket offer to watch the Vitality Blast clash between Lancashire Lightning and Durham live at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday 21 July. Over 900 took up the offer, creating a sea of blue in Stand B for the Lightning’s first home match of the 2019 summer – a fantastic way to round off an All Stars summer for many of the participants. Clinton Perren, Head of Cricket Relationships for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said “We couldn’t be happier having seen an unprecedented amount of All Stars activity throughout Lancashire this year.

“To be able to introduce so many new children and their families to the game of cricket at such a young age, has been a fulfilling and rewarding experience for all the coaches and volunteers at both Lancashire and throughout the wider club network. “It’s been a tremendous opportunity for the cricket clubs to showcase themselves and their facilities by promoting a warm, welcoming, family friendly environment hopefully inspiring those 3,500 children and their families to fall in love with cricket. “It’s been fantastic to have the support of the Lancashire First Team squad attending sessions this summer, which has really helped to inspire all of our participants. “The sight of a blue and white All Stars filled stand at the Durham match here at Emirates Old Trafford was wonderful to see and I hope to see many of those faces returning again next summer.”

IT’S BEEN FANTASTIC TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE LANCASHIRE FIRST TEAM SQUAD ATTENDING SESSIONS THIS SUMMER.

Lancashire Cricket Foundation News

Lancashire Cricket Foundation continues to inspire the next generation of cricket fans Lancashire Cricket welcomed 1,500 school children and their teachers to Emirates Old Trafford earlier this summer to take in a day of the Club’s Specsavers County Championship match against Worcestershire – in what was the seventh annual Schools Open Day. As well as watching Lancashire seal a third straight victory on the field, children were inspired by a visit from Alex Davies and Danny Lamb, entertained by a range of activities in the festival zone and also cheered on Lanky during a mascot race at the Lunch Break.

Sandy Mitchell, Head of Community Growth for the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, said: “We were delighted to welcome 39 schools to Emirates Old Trafford for the seventh edition of this annual mass participation event. “The day combines the best of the on-field cricket action with several fun-themed, physical and educational activities which are all designed to highlight everything that both the Club and the Lancashire Cricket Foundation has to offer.”

Pupils from St Barnabas CE Primary School in Darwen also got the opportunity to form a guard of honour to welcome captain Dane Vilas and the Lancashire side out onto the pitch at the start of play.

Local volunteers rewarded with unforgettable Cricket World Cup experiences at Emirates Old Trafford

SUMMER DRAW Congratulations to Mr J Webb of Middleton who won the first prize in our Summer Draw - a cheque for £1,000 plus two tickets for the England V Australia Specsavers Ashes Test Match at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday 7 September. Many thanks to everyone who supported the draw by buying or selling tickets.

Seven Lancashire Cricket Foundation volunteers were given an unforgettable ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 experience this summer, as they took a step closer to the action than most. Five young people, aged 17-24 who volunteer on the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz programme successfully applied to be part of the Flag Team for each fixture held at Emirates Old Trafford.

Summer Draw Winners:

During matches, Marianne Lea, Will Radcliffe, Saad Nana, Chloe Hawes and Kasim Mirza got the thrill of walking out ahead of the teams, carrying the competing nations’ flags and then taking to the field during the mid-innings break to coach mini cricket games in front of thousands of spectators

1st Prize – £1000

9419

Mr J Webb, Middleton

In addition to this, a further two Foundation volunteers (Nadine Cosgrove and Chet Trivedy) were also selected to carry the ICC Cricket World Cup trophy, which now belongs to England, out onto the pitch.

2nd Prize – £100

6612

Mrs Joan Jackson, Caton

3rd Prize – £50

44781

J Harrop, Middlewich

Darwen and Norden book Lancashire Knockout Cup final date This year’s Lancashire Knockout Cup, sponsored by Heineken, will be an all Lancashire League affair as defending champions Darwen look to retain their title against Norden. 2018 winners Darwen earned the right to defend their title following a spirited effort in the first semi-final which saw them chase down a total of 105, after dismissing Horwich RMI in a low scoring contest at the Recreational Ground in early August. Darwen, who beat Clifton in the 2018 final, have recorded victories over Church & Oswaldtwistle, Roe Green, Ormskirk, Blackpool and then Horwich RMI on their way to this year’s decider.

After two tense, closely fought semi-finals, the final at Heywood CC on Sunday 8 September has the stage set for a fantastic contest with Darwen looking to be the first club to retain the title since Bootle in 2007.

Prior to beating Netherfield, Norden saw off Ramsbottom, Longridge, Egerton and Garstang en route to the final.

First Team Statistics 2019

As of 17 August 2019

Royal London One-Day Cup Batting Rank Player

N/O

100

Steven Croft

516

110

73.71

94.68

Jack Lehmann

191

77*

63.67

98.45

Dane Vilas

439

166

62.71

119.62

Keaton Jennings

416

41.6

81.09

Josh Bohannon

156

55*

31.2

96.3

Rob Jones

186

83.41

Glenn Maxwell

124

110.71

Haseeb Hameed

168

Graham Onions

16*

164.29

Brooke Guest

20.5

78.85

Saqib Mahmood

89.66

Liam Livingstone

96.3

Matthew Parkinson

118.18

James Anderson

2.5

Stephen Parry

12.5

Royal London One-Day Cup Bowling Rank Player

Best

10w

Saqib Mahmood

M 10

95.3

Maidens 7

518

18.5

5.42

6/37

Stephen Parry

3.83

1/23

Liam Hurt

134

26.8

5.36

2/24

Matthew Parkinson

77.1

436

36.33

5.65

5/51

Glenn Maxwell

52.5

297

37.12

5.62

3/42

James Anderson

52.4

227

37.83

4.31

3/21

Graham Onions

72.2

434

48.22

2/39

Rob Jones

20.2

122

1/3

Liam Livingstone

5.38

1/49

Steven Croft

211

105.5

6.21

2/20

Josh Bohannon

142

9.47

1/33

KEY:

M - Matches

I - Innings

N/O - Not Out

R - Runs

HS - High Score

100 - Centuries

50 - Half Centuries

C - Catches

County Championship - Division Two Batting Rank Player

N/O

100

Dane Vilas

699

132*

87.38

65.82

Josh Bohannon

225

98*

56.25

53.7

Alex Davies

407

147

50.88

62.42

Liam Livingstone

363

114

45.38

62.69

Rob Jones

523

122

43.58

40.86

Steven Croft

333

41.62

51.55

Tom Bailey

159

31.8

55.4

Haseeb Hameed

341

117

28.42

43.27

Keaton Jennings

345

24.64

39.79

Glenn Maxwell

21.67

62.5

Saqib Mahmood

31*

20.25

34.62

Brooke Guest

35.9

Joe Burns

43.48

Jake Lehmann

8.75

44.87

Richard Gleeson

7.5

43.48

James Anderson

6.25

44.64

Graham Onions

County Championship - Division Two Bowling Rank Player

Best

10w

James Anderson

M 6

159.4

Maidens 61

281

9.37

1.76

5/18

Matthew Parkinson

42.3

165

16.5

3.88

6/23

Graham Onions

270.1

751

17.88

2.78

5/38

Glenn Maxwell

69.5

185

18.5

2.65

5/40

Richard Gleeson

184

653

21.77

3.55

5/37

Liam Livingstone

117.1

204

22.67

1.74

2/17

Tom Bailey

162.2

424

28.27

2.61

5/67

Stephen Parry

156

31.2

2.84

3/59

Saqib Mahmood

134.4

438

36.5

3.25

4/48

Steven Croft

2.31

1/17

Josh Bohannon

100.4

336

67.2

3.34

1/31

Keaton Jennings

2.62

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