Stephen Moore to leave Lancashire.

Stephen Moore to leave Lancashire.

Stephen Moore has played very little
first-class cricket this season.

After four years with Lancashire, the opening batsman will part ways with the club, after it was decided that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the year.

The South-African born batsman had previously played for Worcestershire, where he scored what remains to be his highest ever first-class score of 246.

Following his call-up to the England Lions squad, Lancashire became captivated by the potential of Moore and were quick to put pen to paper before another county could.

His extensive role in the teams 2011 Championship victory will, perhaps, be why many Lancashire fans will struggle to see him depart. His unbeaten 169 versus Hampshire in the penultimate fixture of the season secured a 222-run win and, with over 1,000 runs in that season, Moore was one of the leading figures in the side.

However, his, and indeed the squads inability to perform in the following season, led to an enquiry as to why the team had failed to play at the same standard and like many other players Moore was highlighted as a somebody who had under-performed. 

He initially retained his position at the top of the order this season, but soon fell out of favour, forcing Lancashire to exercise six different opening combinations before they found Paul Horton 

and Luis Reece, who have made four hundred-partnerships thus far.

Soon enough, Moore became a one-day specialist, continuing to entertain the fans who know what he was, and still is capable of doing. 

But, with the season coming to a close, the club announced that he will be given the opportunity to move on from Lancashire.

Director of cricket, Mike Watkinson, said that: "The club would like to thank Stephen for his contributions in recent seasons, but we have not been able to create regular places for him an all competitions and hopefully he will pursue options elsewhere."